The Larches

Updated 21 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 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 completed this inspection along with an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

The Larches is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. The Larches is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post. They had tended their application to deregister and another manager had been appointed and was in the process of becoming registered.

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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. However, we telephoned the evening before to say we were inspecting the next day. 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 registration. 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 (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. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We met and spoke with the three people who live at The Larches and the staff supporting them. We spoke with the outgoing registered manager and the new manager and the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

Between day one and day two of the inspection visits an Expert by Experience telephoned three relatives to seek feedback on the service provision. We examined records relating to the running of the service. This included assessments prior to placement, care planning with risk assessments, along with daily notes for three people. Records relating to medicines, recruitment and the oversight and monitoring of the service were viewed.

Updated 21 April 2022

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

About the service

The Larches is a residential care home providing personal care to up to five people. The service provides specialist care and support to individuals with a diagnosis of Prader-Willi Syndrome. At the time of our inspection there were three people using the service. The building is an adapted house in a residential area.

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

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

Right support: People were very happy with living at The Larches. They benefitted from a good quality, well maintained environment, with lovely grounds.

There were sufficient staff to support people with their care needs, but more importantly with their psychological wellbeing throughout their day. The keyworker system in place was used to good effect to enable people to relate to one key staff member. People were able to contribute to their own care records and support in a meaningful way.

People had a lifestyle that allowed them to lead the best life they could. The people were able to chose interesting opportunities within the community. People had their own interests and were enabled to follow these.

Right care: People were able to contribute to the weekly meeting that was used to discuss the running of the service. The menu choices were discussed and agreed for the following week. People were able to take part in cooking and had access to all parts of their home except the walk-in larder that was kept locked to maintain people’s safety.

Staff had received good training and understood the condition of Prader-Willi Syndrome to enable them to support and respond to people showing dignity, respect and promoting choice in an agreed framework that was not overwhelming.

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.

Right culture: The knowledge of staff, managers and owner of the condition Prada-Willi Syndrome, means they can understand how best to motivate and support people to lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives to the best of each persons ability.

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 8 January 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to give it a rating.

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.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for The Larches on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.