Starbrook

Updated 3 February 2022

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.

We received information of concern about staffing at this service. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider has in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 7 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the provider 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. Following the site visit we spoke to three staff and two relatives by telephone.

Updated 3 February 2022

Starbrook is a care home providing personal care to six people with learning disabilities and autism. People are supported in one adapted building.

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

The service had experienced staff shortages at the end of 2021 due to staff vacancies and absence as a result of COVID-19. This had resulted in people having reduced opportunities to take part in activities outside the home. During this time people were supported to take part in more activities in the home and its grounds.

The management team had recruited additional temporary staff and had a rolling recruitment programme to fill staff posts permanently.

Relatives told us they had been concerned about the staffing situation at the home and had raised their concerns with the management of the service. Relatives said they did not think people had been unsafe and the recent recruitment of staff had resulted in people being supported to do more activities out of the home.

Staff told us it had been a difficult time due to the shortages, but the situation had recently improved. Staff said they were now able to support people to take part in their usual activities out of the home.

We found the following examples of good practice.

The service had introduced measures to prevent visitors from catching and spreading infections. Visitors were screened for symptoms of COVID-19 and were provided with personal protective equipment (PPE).

Staff had received training on infection prevention and control measures and how to use PPE safely. PPE was available to staff throughout the service and staff were seen using it effectively.

Additional cleaning measures had been introduced in the home. All areas of the home were clean, and records demonstrated the additional cleaning had been completed.

COVID-19 testing was being carried out for people using the service and staff in line with the latest guidance.

The provider had effective systems in place to check staff and professional visitors were vaccinated against COVID-19.

The provider had updated their infection prevention and control policy to reflect the COVID-19 pandemic and additional measures that had been introduced.