Sahara House

Updated 17 November 2023

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 IPC 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 team consisted of 2 inspectors, 2 medicines inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Sahara House is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Sahara House 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 provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

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 we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We also reviewed notifications that the registered provider had sent to us since the last 6 months. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager. We reviewed a range of records. This included 6 people's care records, staff files, training records, risk assessments and satisfaction surveys. We also looked at audits and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

We spoke with 2 people during our inspection and 8 relatives by telephone to obtain their views of the service. We also spoke to 7 care staff during our inspection, to ask them questions about their roles.

Updated 17 November 2023

About the service

Sahara House is a residential care home registered to provide accommodation, personal care and support for up to 19 people, with a learning disability and/or autism and physical disabilities.

At the time of our inspection, 13 people were living in the home.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and 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 supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

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

Right Support

We found that people were not always protected from the risk of harm as risks were not always identified in people’s risk assessments. Some people’s records contained inconsistent information in care plans in regard to the support they needed. However, at the time of our inspection, the registered manager was in the process of changing over people’s care records to an electronic care plan and reviewing people care needs.

The risks related to people’s medicines were not thoroughly assessed and identified. We observed that staff did not always support people in a person-centred way when supporting them with their medicines.

People were not always supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. For example, some people’s Mental Capacity Assessment (MCA) and best interest forms were not fully completed to help support people to make decisions in relation to the use of surveillance system [CCTV] in the service. However, the registered manager was in the process of holding MCA and best interest meeting with people and their family’s. People were supported by staff to pursue their interests.

Right Care:

The providers systems and processes were not always effective. The service was in need of redecorating and in some of the communal area’s maintenance was also required such as the kitchen was in need of refurbishing. The laundry room and bath rooms were not clean, which is a potential infection control risk.

People told us they received care that met their support needs and preferences and that they were treated with kindness and respect. We received mixed feedback from relatives about the care and support to people. Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people's needs.

The provider had systems in place to carry out recruitment checks to ensure that staff were recruited safely. Staff received up to date training to meet people’s support needs.

Right Culture:

The provider did not always identify areas of improvement in their audits that were carried out and issues with safety concerns were not picked up. The registered manager had an action plan to help improve the service. There were systems in place to receive feedback, however we were informed that not everyone was asked to give feedback.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We have identified breaches in relation to safe care and treatment, managing the risk of preventing and controlling of infections, need for consent, care and treatment must be appropriate and assessed, monitor and mitigate risks to the health of people who used the service. We have made 2 recommendations in relation to preventing and controlling infection and for the provider to review their current communication plans for people.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.