Tigh Allene

Updated 12 March 2019

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 7 and 8 January 2019 and was announced. One inspector carried out the inspection.

Some of the people who used the service had complex needs which limited their verbal communication. This meant they could not always tell us their views of the service, so we carried out observations and spoke with three of their family members. We spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager, area manager, senior compliance officer, two care staff and one health and social care professional. We looked at the care records of three people who used the service and the personnel files for two members of staff.

Before we visited the service we checked the information we held about this location and the service provider, for example, inspection history, statutory notifications and complaints. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send to CQC by law. We contacted professionals involved in caring for people who used the service, including commissioners and safeguarding staff. We also contacted Healthwatch. Healthwatch is the local consumer champion for health and social care services. They give consumers a voice by collecting their views, concerns and compliments through their engagement work. Information provided by these professionals was used to inform the inspection.

We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

Updated 12 March 2019

This inspection took place on 7 and 8 January 2019 and was announced. This was to ensure someone would be available to speak with and show us records.

Tigh Allene is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Tigh Allene accommodates up to five people with learning disabilities in one adapted building. On the days of the inspection there were five people using the service however only one person was in the house during our visit.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good however the Well-led key question had improved to outstanding. There was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

There was a strong emphasis on continuous improvement and research was carried out into best practice. Governance was extremely well embedded in the running of the service.

The service had a positive culture that was person-centred and inclusive. Family members spoke very highly about the management team. Staff were highly motivated and proud to work for the service.

The service worked well in partnership with other health and social care professionals to improve outcomes for people.

Accidents and incidents were appropriately recorded and risk assessments were in place. Staff understood their responsibilities with regard to safeguarding and had been trained in safeguarding adults.

The home was clean and suitably adapted for the people who used the service. Appropriate health and safety checks had been carried out.

Medicines were stored safely and securely, and procedures were in place to ensure people received medicines as prescribed. The manager and staff were working with healthcare professionals to reduce people’s needs for psychotropic medicines. Psychotropic means medicines prescribed to alter behaviour, perception or mood.

There were enough staff on duty to meet the needs of people. The provider had an effective recruitment and selection procedure in place and carried out relevant vetting checks when they employed staff. Staff were suitably trained and received regular supervisions and appraisals.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives, and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were protected from the risk of poor nutrition. Care records contained evidence of people being supported during visits to and from external health care specialists.

Family members were complimentary about the standard of care at Tigh Allene.

Staff treated people with dignity and respect and helped to maintain people’s independence by encouraging them to care for themselves where possible. Support plans were in place that recorded people’s plans and wishes for their end of life care.

The service was person-centred and delivered support in a way that met people’s individual needs. Person-centred means the person was at the centre of any care or support plans and their individual wishes, needs and choices were considered.

The service protected people from social isolation and was responsive to people’s individual needs.

People and family members were aware of how to make a complaint.