Strathallen

Updated 2 November 2023

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

The inspection was conducted by 1 inspector.

Service and service type

Strathallen 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. Strathallen 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

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 spoke with 6 people who used the service. We spent some time observing and listening to staff interactions with people. We spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager and a senior carer.

We conducted a visual inspection of the building and looked at a wide variety of records. These included people’s care and medicine records, monitoring documentation, staff files and audits used to monitor the service.

Following the inspection site visit we also contacted 2 relatives, 3 members of staff and 2 professionals to request feedback on the service provided.

Updated 2 November 2023

About the service

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.

Strathallen is a residential care home providing personal care support to up to 9 people living with a learning disability and/or autistic people. At the time of our inspection, 7 people were living at the service. The service accommodates people in one building across 3 floors. It is located in a residential area within close proximity to local amenities.

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

Right Support: The environment was clean, large, spacious and personalised. Ongoing maintenance kept the service to a good standard. The environment reflected the people who lived there with photographs, artwork, and personalised decorative accessories on display in bedrooms and communal areas. People had choice in all aspects of their lives and were supported to do all they wanted to do. Staff had a flexible approach and accommodated people's wishes. People had an active life which incorporated activities on offer in their local community. Where people had shared interests, they went out or on holiday together. People received their medicines as required and staff worked in-line with recommendations from health professionals. 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 Care: Staff promoted equality and diversity in their support for people. They understood people's cultural needs and provided culturally appropriate care. There were always enough staff on duty to provide safe care to people. The registered manager had a flexible approach to staffing levels to ensure activities, hobbies, individual interests and outings were catered for. Staff acted quickly when needed to keep people safe, whilst promoting positive risk taking to allow people to build their daily living skills. People were support by a stable staff team who knew them really well.

Right Culture: People led inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management and staff. Management led by example and staff empowered people to do all that they wanted to do. People received compassionate and empowering care that was tailored to their individual needs. Staff spoke highly of people and went 'above and beyond' for them to live the best lives possible. The service was committed to a culture of improvement and regularly sought feedback from people, relatives, and professionals. The provider participated in pilots and focus groups to help drive forward improvements in provisions in the local area for people with a learning disability. The service enabled people and those important to them to work with staff to develop the service. Staff valued and acted upon people's views.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 24 December 2018)

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service and the time since the last inspection.

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 review the key questions of Safe and Well-led only. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

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