Newhaven

Updated 4 February 2022

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 the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 18 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hour's notice of the inspection.

Updated 4 February 2022

About the service

Newhaven is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to 11 people with learning disabilities and or autism at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 16 people.

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 large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to 16 people. Ten people were using the service. This is larger than current best practice guidance. However, the size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by the building design fitting into the residential area and the other large domestic homes of a similar size. 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

During this inspection we found improvements in regard to Registering the Right Support and notifying the Care Quality Commission (CQC) of all incidents in accordance with our statutory requirements.

We have made recommendations in regards to documentation, updating best practice knowledge and environmental risk management.

Some refurbishment had taken place at Newhaven and further refurbishment was planned.

People we spoke with felt safe living at Newhaven and in observations we saw people appeared relaxed around staff. We observed familiar, warm and caring relationships and people were treated with dignity and respect. Staff were able to effectively communicate with people who had non-verbal forms of communication.

Care plans and risk assessments were in place that held appropriate information on how to support a person effectively. People were supported to maintain a healthy diet and had access to healthcare professionals should they need them.

There was an ongoing process where people were asked for their feedback about the service using a range of quality assurance systems that measured and monitored the quality of care and the service.

Accidents, incidents and complaints were dealt with appropriately and people’s medication was administered safely. The provider had systems in place to ensure that people were protected from the risk of harm or abuse. We saw there were policies and procedures in place to guide staff in relation to safeguarding adults and whistleblowing.

Staff received induction, training and were supported in their roles to be able to provide safe effective and responsive care for people living in Newhaven.

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 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, if they chose to, and become more independent.

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 requires improvement (published 18 December 2018).

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. However, at this inspection recommendations have been made.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.