Background to this inspection
Updated
26 April 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 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 completed by one inspector.
Service and service type
Epwell Road 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
The inspection was announced. We gave a short period notice because it is a respite service and there is not always someone staying there. We wanted to make sure someone was available to support us with the inspection process.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since their registration with us. We sought feedback from the local authority. The provider was asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does 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 one member of staff and the registered manager. We met one person who was using the service at the time. Although the person could not communicate verbally with us, we spent time observing staff interaction with them through the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.
We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and medication 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 policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We spoke with four relatives and three staff. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
26 April 2022
About the service
Respite Breaks, Epwell Road is a residential care home providing personal care for up to two people with a learning disability and autistic people. The service provides short-term stays for people (respite). At the time of the inspection one person was using the service.
People stay in single bedrooms and there are shared areas including the dining and lounge areas, conservatory and garden.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
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.
Systems were in place to keep people safe from risk of avoidable harm and abuse. Staff were aware of their responsibilities to keep people safe from abuse. Risks had been appropriately assessed with enough staff members on duty to support people safely. People’s medicines were managed safely and the home environment was clean and hygienic. There were processes in place to investigate any incidents to reduce risk of reoccurrences.
A detailed pre-assessment was completed before people started with the service. There was a phased admissions process in place for people to meet the staff, help familiarise themselves with the layout and home environment. A relative told us, “We went for visits so [person] would get used to going there and they stayed for a few hours. The phasing is absolutely fantastic and quite comforting for [person].” People were supported by trained staff who were knowledgeable about people’s individual needs. Staff encouraged people to try healthy food options and supported them to make their own decisions. Staff used a variety of communication techniques to ensure they sought people's consent and help them make their own decisions throughout the day.
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.
Relatives told us their family members were supported by kind and caring staff who knew people well. People's individual needs were respected and staff supported people with dignity and respect. Relatives told us they were involved in the planning of their family’s member’s care and support.
The registered manager carried out audits of the service to monitor and review the quality of the care provided to people. Competency checks were completed to monitor staff practice to ensure they were working to current best practice. The registered manager and staff worked in partnership with people, relatives and where it was appropriate health and social care professionals, to ensure people’s support needs were being met.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.
Right support
The model of care and the accommodation maximised people's choice and control, independence. The environment was spacious and homely. From the outside, it did not give the impression of being a care home. People were encouraged to bring in their own belongings to personalise their bedroom. People had their own bedrooms and bathrooms and encouraged by staff to develop their independence as much as practicably possible.
Right care
Care is person-centred and promotes people's dignity, privacy and human rights. People were supported by staff that knew them well and understood their needs. Staff told us about the relationships they had built up with people which had increased people’s confidence and enabled them to provide the appropriate support to people even when they were anxious or upset.
Right culture
There was a positive, person-centred culture amongst the staff team. The registered manager and staff members worked in partnership with people and their relatives. There was a culture of listening to people, their relatives and working in people’s best interest. One relative told us, "It's really important and I want other parents to know that my child is so happy (at Epwell Road) and you will feel comfortable (about 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 14 December 2020 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture. This was a planned inspection for this newly registered service.
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.