The Heathers

Updated 19 April 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 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 2 inspectors, a medicines inspector 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

The Heather's 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. The Heather's 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 sought feedback from the local authority, Healthwatch and other professionals who work with the service. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. 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 used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 14 people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 12 members of staff, including the registered manager, team leaders, senior care workers and care workers. We also spoke with an advocate for some people in the home, who was visiting the service during the onsite inspection.

We reviewed a range of records including 5 people’s care records, multiple medication records and audits, 3 staff recruitment files and supervisions. We also looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

Updated 19 April 2023

About the service

The Heather's is a specialist residential service providing accommodation and personal care to a maximum of 34 people, inclusive of respite service. The service provides support to people with alcohol and/or substance misuse. The Heather's is an adapted building which includes double bedrooms for people and ensuite facilities. At the time of our inspection there were 27 people using the service.

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

The home was clean, and the risk of infection was reduced by effective infection prevention and control measures being followed. The provider had refurbished some areas of the home and had plans for further development. People were supported by sufficient staff who received training to support them in their role. People's risks were assessed, and care plans put in place to support people in the way they wanted. We identified some inconsistencies in care plans, but the provider took immediate action to address this.

People experienced safe care from staff who understood how to protect them from abuse and avoidable harm. Risks to people's safety were mitigated and people received their medicine as prescribed. Where incidents or accidents occurred, these were investigated and analysed to reduce the risk of re occurrence.

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.

People’s hydration and nutritional needs were met, and people told us they enjoyed the food provided at The Heathers.

The culture we observed within the service was open and friendly. Senior team members were visible throughout the service. Staff said they were well supported by the registered manager and senior team. Regular audits and checks were carried out by the team leaders and the registered manager. These were used to review the quality and safety 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 and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 25 October 2022), and there were breaches of regulation. 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 focused inspection of this service on 12 and 21 September 2022. Breaches of legal requirements were 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, medicine management, consent, premises and equipment and good governance.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

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.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.

The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

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

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.