Conway

Updated 24 August 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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

One inspector, a member of the CQC medicines team and an Expert by Experience carried out the inspection. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. The Expert by Experience made telephone calls to relatives.

Service and service type

This service is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care. 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

We gave the service short 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 inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since it was registered. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually 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 four people using the service and five people’s relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager. We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and various 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.

Updated 24 August 2022

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

The service is a care home providing support to people on a respite basis; people book for short stays, for example when their primary carers are on holiday. There were seven people using the service when we inspected.

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

Right Support

Staff provided effective support to identify people’s aspirations and goals and assist people to plan how these would be met. There was a strong ethos of supporting people to develop new skills and achieve independence where possible.

People had choices about their living environment and brought personal effects with them when they came to stay. People were in the process of helping to make decorative items to put in the garden.

Staff enabled people to access specialist health and social care support in the community.

Staff supported people to make decisions following best practice in decision making, although we identified paperwork in this area could be improved.

Right Care

People could communicate easily with staff as staff understood their individual communication styles.

The service promoted equality and diversity in their support for people. People received kind and compassionate care from staff who respected people’s privacy and dignity. There was a genuine warmth and affection in the way staff interacted with people.

The service worked well with other agencies to protect people from abuse. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and records provided evidence that they were doing so.

We identified some improvements should be made in relation to how medicines were managed, and the management team addressed these straight after the inspection.

People could take part in activities and keep in touch with people who were important to them. They were supported to develop and maintain meaningful friendships and relationships in the wider community.

Right culture

The service had enabled people and those important to them to work with staff to develop the service.

Feedback was regularly sought from people, although a small number of relatives told us communication could be improved. The registered manager told us they were taking steps to address this and felt the COVID-19 pandemic had hindered interaction.

Staff and managers ensured the quality and safety of the service had been fully assessed to ensure people were safe. Safe recruitment practices were followed. Staff knew and understood people well. People received good quality care, support and treatment because trained staff and specialists could meet their needs and wishes.

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

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture.

Follow up

We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.