Southernwood

Updated 8 January 2021

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.

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 (IPC) practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 11 December 2020 and was announced.

Updated 8 January 2021

About the service

Southernwood is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to five people aged 25 and over at the time of the inspection.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

The service was a medium sized home. It was registered for the support of up to six people. Five people were using the service. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

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

Families we spoke with were positive about the service. One relative told us, “I am immensely happy [he] has built up a rapport with staff.” Another family member told us, “I could not ask for more.”

Risks assessments identified people’s support needs. There was clear guidance for staff to follow to minimise risks. Care plans reflected people’s care needs including specific dietary requirements.

Staff had been trained in the administration of medicines. People received their medicines in line with the prescriber’s instructions. Medicines were stored safely in a locked cabinet in people’s rooms.

Staff we spoke with confirmed that had received training in safeguarding and knew what action to take if they were concerned about people’s welfare.

We observed staff interacting in a positive way towards the people they supported. People appeared happy and relaxed throughout our inspection.

Staff received an induction when they first joined the service and regular training was completed and refreshed when required. Staff told us they felt supported and had regular meetings and supervisions with the registered manager. Staff had worked at the service for several years.

People were able to take part in social events and regularly visited the community. Transport was available for taking people to day centres and shopping expeditions.

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 service applied the principles and values (consistently) of 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 provider had a quality auditing system in place. Accidents and incidents were documented and reviewed as necessary.

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 19 May 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.