Ivy Mead

Updated 11 December 2020

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 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 carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

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

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection.

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. The provider was not asked to complete the required Provider Information Return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about the service, what it does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account in making our judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We spoke with four people who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the Nominated Individual, registered manager, senior support workers, and support workers. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and four people’s medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 11 December 2020

About the service

Ivy Mead is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 20 people of various ages. Most people have a learning disability and/or mental health needs. It is split into two separate houses. At the time of the inspection 20 people were living at the service.

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

People received medicines as prescribed by competent and trained staff.

We have made a recommendation about the management of some medicines.

Risk assessments were in place and had been reviewed regularly. Systems and processes were in place to protect people from abuse, and concerns had been raised with relevant authorities. People were cared for by sufficient numbers of staff. Infection prevention and control measures were in place. Accidents and incidents were reviewed and trends and themes considered to inform learning lessons to prevent recurrence.

People’s needs and choices were documented and well-known by staff. Staff received regular training and their skills were refreshed. People’s meal choices were documented, and people were supported and encouraged to eat and drink healthy options. People’s rooms and the environment were personalised. People were involved in how the home was run. 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. 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 guidance CQC follows 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. For example, people’s choices, control and independence was maximised. People received care which was person-centred and promoted people’s dignity, privacy and human rights. The service followed an embedded ethos to encourage and empower people and staff upheld this principle.

There was a clear vision for the service. Staff were reminded of the service ethos and values in memos and meetings. There was a clear governance framework. Surveys and meetings involved people, relatives and staff in how the service was managed. Action plans were produced and outcomes shared.

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 requires improvement (published 5 August 2019).

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 22 March 2019. A breach of legal requirements was found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve safe care and treatment.

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, Effective and Well-led which contain those requirements.

The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Ivy Mead on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.