Hemmet House

Updated 26 October 2022

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 team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type

Hemmet 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. Hemmet 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 used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with six people using the service and two relatives who shared their views and experiences about the service. We observed interactions between people and staff to understand people’s experiences. We spoke with the registered manager, a senior care support worker and two care support workers. We reviewed a range of records. This included two people's care records, medicines administration records (MARs), two staff recruitment files, staff training and supervision information and other records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 26 October 2022

About the service

Hemmet House is a residential care home providing personal care to up to eight people in one adapted building. The service provides support to people with physical disabilities. At the time of our inspection there were eight people using the service.

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

People were safe at the service. Staff knew how to safeguard people from abuse and keep them safe from identified risks to their safety and wellbeing. The service was clean and hygienic and staff followed current infection control and hygiene practices to reduce the risk of infection. The provider carried out health and safety checks of the premises and equipment to make sure these were safe. Medicines were managed safely. People were supported to take their medicines as prescribed.

There were enough staff to support people and meet their needs. Recruitment and criminal records checks were carried out on staff to make sure they were suitable to support people. Staff were provided training to help them meet people’s needs. Staff were well supported and encouraged to learn and improve in their role and to put people’s needs and wishes at the heart of everything they did.

People were involved in planning and making decisions about the care and support they required. People’s records set out their preferences for how their care and support needs should be provided. Staff understood how people’s needs should be met and provided the care and support which had been planned for people. The provider checked with people at regular intervals that their care and support continued to meet their needs and sought their views about how the service could be improved.

People were supported to stay healthy and well. Staff encouraged people to eat and drink enough to meet their needs. Staff supported people to manage their healthcare conditions and made sure people could access support from healthcare professionals when needed.

People were happy with the care and support they received from staff. Staff were kind and treated people well. They respected people’s right to privacy and to be treated with dignity. People were encouraged to be as independent as they could be with daily living tasks. 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 undertook a wide range of activities that reflected their interests and preferences. Relatives and friends were free to visit people without any unnecessary restrictions. The service had been designed and decorated to meet people’s needs and people had a choice of comfortable spaces to spend time in. The provider had plans to redecorate and refurbish the service as and when required.

The service was managed well by an experienced registered manager. They understood how people’s needs should be met and had oversight of the service. There were audits and checks at regular intervals, to monitor, review and improve the quality and safety of the service. There were systems in place to investigate accidents, incidents and complaints.

The service worked with healthcare professionals involved in people’s care and acted on their recommendations to deliver care and support that met people’s needs.

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 9 February 2018).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.

Follow up

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