Happy Days

Updated 18 May 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

The inspection was completed by one inspector.

Service and service type

Happy Days is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Happy Days 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 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.

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 about the service since the service was registered in August 2021. We sought feedback from the Local Authority who work with the service. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with both people who use the service about their experience of the care provided. We also spoke with the registered manager, senior team leader, behavioural analyst and three members of staff. We reviewed both people’s care files and three staff personnel files. We looked at the provider’s arrangements for managing risk and medicines management, staff training and supervision data, complaint and compliment records. We also looked at the service’s quality assurance arrangements.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the manager to validate evidence found. We spoke with one person’s relative about their experience of the care provided for their family member.

Updated 18 May 2022

About the service

Happy Days is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to four people. The service provides support to people who have a learning disability and/or autism. At the time of our inspection there were two people using the service.

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

Suitable arrangements were in place to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm. Staff understood how to raise concerns and knew what to do to safeguard the people they supported. Risks to people’s safety were assessed and mitigated to ensure people were kept safe. There were sufficient numbers of competent staff deployed to ensure people’s safety and wellbeing. People received their medicines as they should. People were protected by the prevention and control of infection. Lessons were learned and improvements made when things went wrong.

The service was well-managed, and quality assurance, monitoring and oversight arrangements in place were robust.

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.

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

Right Support:

• The premises was small and did not feel impersonal, intimidating or instutionalised. People were able to use communal areas as they wished and to have privacy for themselves.

• People were able to access specialist community based healthcare services to ensure their health and wellbeing needs were met.

• People received personalised support and staff knew people very well. Positive behaviour support plans were in place for people who could become distressed and anxious.

• The service had a positive staff culture that was person centred and inclusive.

Right Care:

• There were enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people’s needs, despite minor workforce challenges as a result of COVID-19. Strategies were in place to continue to recruit new staff and fill any staffing shortfalls.

• People were protected from the risk of harm and staff had completed appropriate training.

• People received good person-centred care to meet their care and support needs.

• People were supported to pursue their interests and hobbies and to participate in their local community.

• Where people had individual ways of communicating, staff were aware of these and could effectively engage with each person.

• People were treated with care and kindness. Staff treated people with respect and dignity.

Right Culture:

• The registered manager led by example. Governance arrangements at the service were robust and in place to monitor the quality of the service.

• Staff told us the management team was approachable. Staff stated they were not afraid to speak out or raise issues.

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 in August 2021 and this is the first inspection.

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.

Follow up

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