Background to this inspection
Updated
14 August 2019
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.
Inspection team
Two inspectors visited the service.
Service and service type
Kynaston Farm is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as 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.
The service had a manager registered with the CQC. 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
We gave a short period notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service, including notifications for events the provider is required to tell us about. We sought feedback from the local authority 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 living at the service. We spoke with seven members of staff including the chief executive, the quality assurance coordinator, the registered manager, the deputy manager and two support workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and three medicine records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service including quality assurance checks, health and safety records and meeting minutes.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with two healthcare professionals who regularly visit the service and a fire safety officer. We also spoke with three relatives of people living at the service.
Updated
14 August 2019
About the service
Kynaston Farm is a residential care home providing personal care for up to six people living with learning disabilities and/or autistic spectrum. Some people also had physical disabilities and sensory impairments. Six people were living at the service at the time of the inspection.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Fire safety was not always managed well, which could put people at risk in the event of a fire. We made a recommendation about this.
People’s safety was supported through the use of positive risk management and risk assessments. They were involved in selecting staff they felt safe and comfortable with supporting them. Relatives had confidence their family members were safe and the service was appropriately staffed.
The service consistently applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
People received effective care from a consistent, skilled staff team, who understood their goals. The service worked with healthcare services to promote people’s health and access the relevant professionals when needed.
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 were central in making decisions about their care.
People thrived living in a warm, welcoming service where they felt a sense of belonging and their emotional needs were supported.
Staff actively looked for opportunities to improve people’s wellbeing and promote their independence. They were able to try new activities and set goals to work towards, such as losing weight or improving their communication. Changes to their care needs were responded to appropriately.
The provider was committed to providing high quality, personalised care. This aim was understood by staff and reflected in the care people received and the management of the service. People, relatives and staff were involved in the running of the service and encouraged to give their feedback.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 18 October 2016).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.