Archived: Springfield House

Updated 11 April 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 30 January 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection was carried out by one inspector. This was because this is a small service and past experience has shown that additional inspection staff would be too intrusive for people.

We reviewed information from the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed other information we held about the service. We looked at notifications received by the Care Quality Commission. Notifications are information we receive when a significant event happens, like a death or a serious injury.

We looked around all areas of the service and grounds. We met seven people living there. Some people were not able to explain their experiences of living at the service because of their health conditions so we used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We spoke with five members of staff and the registered manager, the manager, the deputy manager and the locality manager. We observed how staff engaged and spoke with people. We looked at how people were supported with their daily routines and activities and assessed if people's needs were being met. We reviewed three people’s care and support plans. We looked at a range of other records including three staff files, safety checks and records about how the quality of the service was managed.

Updated 11 April 2018

We inspected Springfield House on 30 January 2018 and the inspection was unannounced.

Springfield House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

Springfield House provides care and support for people living with a learning disability and behaviours that may challenge others. The service has 10 en-suite rooms and is situated close to the beach, with good public transport links.

Rating at last inspection

At the last inspection the service was rated ‘Good’.

Rating at this inspection

At this inspection we found the service remained ‘Good’.

Why the service was rated ‘Good’

People felt safe living at Springfield House. They continued to be supported by enough, safely recruited, trained and knowledgeable staff. People were protected from the risks of abuse, discrimination and avoidable harm. Risks to people were identified and managed without restricting people.

Staff were mentored and coached and completed regular training to keep up to date with best practice. The registered manager and staff also used guidance from professional organisations to keep up to date.

The service was clean and well maintained. People were involved in making decisions about the décor in the service and in the day to day running of the service. People were involved in planning the menus and were supported to prepare and cook meals. They had access to health and social care professionals and staff provided support to make sure their day to day health and well-being needs were met. Medicines were managed safely.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People’s physical, emotional, social and cultural needs were assessed and reviewed.

People were well supported to move into and out of the service. Staff worked with external agencies to ensure that any move was well co-ordinated. People were supported by staff who were compassionate and caring. People and staff had built strong relationships. People’s privacy and dignity were respected and promoted.

People were involved in writing their care and support plans and setting goals. People’s choices for their end of life care were discussed and recorded to make sure staff could follow their wishes.

People stayed busy and active. They followed their interests and some people went to college or had a job.

People said they would speak to the registered manager or staff if were worried about anything and felt comfortable and confident to do so. There was an accessible complaints procedure. The service continued to be well-led by the registered manager. There was an open and transparent culture at the service which was promoted by the registered manager and staff.

Regular checks and audits were carried out and action was taken to remedy any identified shortfalls. People, relatives, staff and health professionals were encouraged to provide feedback on the day to day running of the service.

All services that provide health and social care to people are required to inform CQC of events that happen, such as a serious accident, so CQC can check that appropriate action was taken to prevent people from harm. The registered manager notified CQC and the local authority in a timely manner.

Further information is in the detailed findings below