NAS House

Updated 9 June 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

This inspection was undertaken by 1 inspector.

Service and service type

NAS House 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. NAS House 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 not required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. This is because the provider is an individual. They are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

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 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 using the service and asked them for their feedback about the service. We observed interactions between people and staff to understand people’s experiences. We also spoke with the provider and a care support worker. We reviewed a range of records. This included 2 people's care records, medicines administration records (MARs), 2 staff recruitment files and other records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 9 June 2023

About the service

NAS House is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 14 people. The service provides support to people with mental health needs. At the time of our inspection there were 9 people using the service.

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

People were safe at NAS House. People told us they had no concerns about their safety and wellbeing at the service. People were encouraged and supported by the provider to report safety concerns if these should arise. Staff had been trained to safeguard people from abuse and knew how to report safeguarding concerns to the relevant person and agencies.

People's views were sought and listened to about how they would like to be kept safe. People’s records contained information about risks to their safety and wellbeing and how these should be managed. Staff understood these well and the action they should take to help keep people safe. The provider made sure staff received relevant training to help manage and reduce safety risks.

There were regular health and safety checks of the premises and equipment to make sure these were safe. The provider had taken action since our last inspection to make improvements that were required. Specifically, we found windows had been fitted with more appropriate restrictors and water hygiene risks were more suitably managed.

There were enough staff to support people and meet their needs. People were supported by a regular team of staff which helped to maintain consistency in the care and support they received. The provider carried out recruitment and criminal records checks to make sure staff were suitable to support people. Staff felt valued and supported by the provider and encouraged to improve their working practice when required.

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.

The service was clean and hygienic and staff followed current infection control and hygiene practice to reduce the risk of infection. People’s relatives and friends were free to visit without any unnecessary restrictions.

Medicines were managed safely and people received their medicines as prescribed.

The provider, who was an individual, was suitably experienced and understood how people’s needs should be met. They monitored and reviewed the safety and quality of the service through regular audits and checks.

People were satisfied with the care and support they received from staff. People’s views were sought about how the service could improve and the provider acted on these.

There were systems in place to investigate accidents, incidents and complaints and people to be involved and informed of the outcome.

The provider worked with healthcare professionals involved in people’s care and acted on their recommendations to deliver care and support that met people’s needs.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was good (published 31 March 2020).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this 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.

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 remained good, based on the findings of this inspection.

Follow up

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