Timaru

Updated 26 May 2023

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 1 inspector.

Service and service type

Timaru is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under 1 contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. The provider was in the process of recruiting a registered manager. Registered managers and providers 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 announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We reviewed feedback from various healthcare professionals, integrated care boards and local authorities.

During the inspection

We spoke with deputy manager, the regional manager and the director of quality and governance. We observed interactions between staff and people in communal areas. We reviewed a range of records including 2 people's care records, infection control documents and records relating to the management of the service. We looked at a staff files in relation to recruitment, training, and induction. We obtained feedback from 1 relative and 4 support workers.

Updated 26 May 2023

About the service

Timaru is a residential care home providing personal care to 6 people with a learning disability and/or autism. It is part of the Sequence Care Group. At the time of the inspection 6 people were using the service.

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

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. We considered this guidance as there were people using the service who have a learning disability and or who are autistic.

Right support: Whilst improvements had been made the model of care and environment failed to consistently maximise people’s choice, control, and independence.

Right care: Whilst improvements had been made, care was not consistently person-centred and at times, and on occasions, failed to promote people’s dignity, privacy, and human rights.

Right culture: The ethos, values, attitudes, and behaviours of leaders had improved since the last inspection.

Staff received appropriate training, supervision, and competency assessment. The provider had safe recruitment and selection processes in place. Infection control procedures were effective, and the environment was clean and well maintained. The provider had suitable arrangements in place to assess and mitigate risk to people and staff.

Governance systems were more effective at driving improvement and staff were aware of their roles and responsibilities. The provider worked effectively with external organisations and referrals to professionals were made when required.

The provider was open and honest about the improvements required and were aware of their responsibilities under duty of candour. The culture of the service had improved, and people were engaged in more meaningful activities.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was inadequate (published on 6 April 2023)

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.

At the last inspection we identified 4 breaches of regulation. At this inspection, we found improvement had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of Regulation 12 (safe care and treatment) and 17 (governance) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

Why we inspected

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.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the key questions Safe and Well-led. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

The overall rating for the service has changed from inadequate to requires improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Timaru 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.