Archived: Bridge House

The service provides accommodation and support with personal care for up to 13 adults with mental health conditions. At the time of our inspection 11 people were using the service.

There was a registered manager at the service at the time of our inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The experiences of people who lived at the home were positive. People told us they felt safe living at the home, staff were kind and the care they received was good. We found staff had a good understanding of their responsibility with regard to safeguarding adults.

People’s needs were assessed and their preferences identified as much as possible across all aspects of their care. Risks were identified and plans in place to monitor and reduce risks. People had access to relevant health professionals when they needed them. Medicines were stored and administered safely.

Staff undertook training and received regular supervision to help support them to provide effective care. Staff we spoke with had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). MCA and DoLS is law protecting people who are unable to make decisions for themselves or whom the state has decided their liberty needs to be deprived in their own best interests. We saw people were able to choose what they ate and drank. People had access to health care professionals as appropriate.

There were sufficient numbers of suitable staff employed by the service. Staff had been recruited safely with appropriate checks on their backgrounds completed.

People’s needs were met in a personalised manner. We found that care plans were in place which included information about how to meet a person’s individual and assessed needs. The service had a complaints procedure in place.

Staff told us the service had an open and inclusive atmosphere and the registered manager was approachable and open. The service had various quality assurance and monitoring mechanisms in place.

Below is a summary of what we found. The summary is based on our observations during the inspection, speaking with people using the service, the staff supporting them and from looking at records.

Is the service safe?

People who used the service were protected from the risk of abuse, because the provider had taken reasonable steps to identify the possibility of abuse and prevent abuse from happening. People we spoke with told us they felt safe living at the home. One person told us "it's clean and safe here." Staff had undertaken training in areas that promoted people's safety including training about safeguarding vulnerable adults. Risk assessments had been carried out to help reduce the risks people faced.

The Care Quality Commission monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards which applies to care homes. While no applications have needed to be submitted, proper policies and procedures were in place. Relevant staff have been trained to understand when an application should be made, and how to submit one.

Is the service effective?

People's needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered in line with their individual care plan. We spoke with people who used the service. They told us they were happy with the care and support provided. One person told us 'the staff help you out. It is a nice place to be with kind people." Staff we spoke with had a good understanding of the individual needs of people.

Is the service caring?

People's views and experiences were taking into account and this informed how their care was delivered. People told us that they were involved and consulted about decisions affecting their care and treatment. One person said 'I have a care plan and I have a say in it." People explained that they had been involved in decisions regarding their medication and their future care needs. Care records showed that people had been involved and consulted about their care.

Is the service responsive?

People's needs were assessed and support was delivered to meet their individual needs. We looked at four care files. These provided information about people's needs. Care plans gave guidance for staff about how they should meet people's needs. Care plans clearly identified people's needs resulting from their diverse cultural backgrounds. Daily notes showed that people were taking part in activities and were being supported to access their local community.

Is the service well-led?

The service had a registered manager in place and a clear management structure. Staff we spoke with said they found management staff to be approachable. Clear records were maintained which were stored securely. Quality assurance and monitoring processes were in place. These included seeking the views of people who used the service.

The manager told us that one of the aims of Bridge House was to care for people and help them to improve their skills and move forward with more confidence. People told us that staff helped them and one person said “I’m getting better at cooking.”

People were protected against the risks associated with medicines because the provider had appropriate arrangements in place to manage medicines.

There were effective recruitment and selection processes in place Staff we spoke to told us they had completed an application form and had undergone an interview before starting work.

People's complaints were investigated and resolved, where possible, to their satisfaction. Each complaint was recorded on a form which followed a seven-step process and documented the nature of the complaint through to the findings of the investigation and action plan.