No 68 Specialist Care

Updated 21 September 2021

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

No 68 Specialist Care Service is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since it was registered, including the notifications we had received from the provider. Notifications are changes, events or incidents the provider is legally obliged to send us within required timescales. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager. We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 21 September 2021

About the service

No 68 Specialist Care Service is a residential care home providing personal care to 11 people aged 50 and over. At the time of the inspection the service was supporting nine people.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Risk assessments had been carried out to assess the risks to people’s safety, and care plans informed staff how to keep people safe. Systems were in place for people to receive their medicines in a safe way. Staff understood their responsibilities to protect people from harm and abuse. Safe recruitment practices were in place and there was enough staff on duty to meet people’s needs.

People were supported to receive a varied diet. Mealtimes were a sociable experience. There was evidence of collaborative working and communication with other professionals to help meet people's needs. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People, and their relatives were complimentary about the care provided by staff. They trusted the staff who supported them. They said staff were kind, caring and supportive. One person said, "The staff are friendly enough. It's nice here because it's small and not too many people.” There was a welcoming and friendly atmosphere at the service.

Care plans were personalised. Staff knew the people they supported and knew about their choices and preferences. There were opportunities for people, relatives and staff to give their views about the service. People were involved in decision making about the care and support they received. There was a varied activities programme in place. People were supported to go on trips several times a week. One person said, “I like it because we go out on trips 3 times a week or so. We go to lots of places. They didn’t do that at my old home.”

Staff spoke very positively about working at the home and the people they cared for. Staff said the

registered manager was, “amazing” and, “so supportive.” There was a quality assurance system in place to assess the standards of care in the service.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection – This service was registered with us on 28/02/2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection. We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.