Background to this inspection
Updated
31 July 2019
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.
Inspection team
The inspection was completed by one inspector, supported by a British sign Language (BSL) interpreter. We asked a BSL interpreter to work with us at the home because the people who lived there, and the staff team, used BSL to communicate.
Service and service type
Signhealth Bowfell Road is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as 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
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. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with two people who used the service about their experience of living at Signhealth Bowfell Road. We spoke with three members of staff, including the team leader and support workers. We also spoke with an independent advocate who worked with the people living at the service. We observed interactions between the people who lived at the home and the staff members.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and medication records. We looked at two 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.
After the inspection
We spoke with the registered manager as they had been unavailable on the day of our inspection. We contacted two professionals who work with the people receiving a regulated activity and one relative.
Updated
31 July 2019
About the service
Signhealth Bowfell Road is a residential care home providing personal care for up to six deaf people with mental health needs. Each person has their own self-contained flat and there is a communal lounge, garden, a staff office and sleep-in room.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The service provided highly person-centred care and support. People were fully engaged in planning and agreeing their support and activities. Risks were assessed and well managed.
The service promoted people’s involvement in their care and support through visual communication methods and innovative role playing to help people to make choices and decisions.
Visual care plans were developed with people choosing the pictures or photographs to be used.
An independent advocate visited the service at least every three months to discuss any issues and support people to express their views.
Care staff were positive role models for people. All staff were fluent in British Sign Language (BSL). BSL interpreters were booked so people and staff could be fully engaged in any appointments.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
The home was fully adapted, with visual fire alarms and door bells. Visual information was used throughout the service to provide people with information.
People and relatives were very positive about the staff team at Signhealth. People were relaxed and comfortable with staff. The staff knew people and their support needs exceptionally well. People were supported to participate in a wide range of activities and to increase their independence at home and in their wider community.
People’s health and nutrition needs were being met by the service. People received their medicines as prescribed.
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 staff team said they enjoyed working at Signhealth, were well supported by the management team. They were very positive about the training and presenting what they had learnt to the rest of the staff team so that everyone benefitted from the courses they had completed.
The management team had a robust quality assurance system to monitor and improve the service. There was an open culture, with involvement from people and staff in the running of the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 30 December 2016).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.