Sparrowfields

Updated 17 August 2018

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on the 24 July 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of two inspectors. We agreed to return and complete the inspection on 25 July 2018, when the inspection team consisted of one inspector.

As part of the inspection process we looked at information we already held about the provider. Providers are required to notify the Care Quality Commission about specific events and incidents that occur including serious injuries to people receiving care and any incidences that put people at risk of harm. We refer to these as notifications. We checked if the provider had sent us notifications in order to plan the areas we wanted to focus on during our inspection. We also contacted the local authority about information they held about the provider. The local authorities are responsible for monitoring the quality and for funding people receiving care and support. They told us that they had no concerns about this service.

During our inspection we spoke to all six people who lived at the home and also made general observations around the home. We also spoke with two health care professionals. We spoke to the team leader, quality manager, the senior administration person, and four support staff. We looked at records relating to the management of the service such as, care plans for three people, the incident and accident records, three staff recruitment files, Medicine Administration Records (MAR). We also looked at records which supported the provider to monitor the quality, management and safety of the service including health and safety audits, accidents and incidents records and compliments and complaints.

Updated 17 August 2018

We carried out this unannounced inspection on the 24 and 25 July 2018. At the last inspection carried out on the 25 January 2017 we found that the provider was not meeting all of the legal requirements. We identified that one person was having their liberty restricted without the necessary authority being in place and identified that the management team required further support and knowledge to ensure that they fully understood their responsibilities. We found a breach of Regulation 13 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 ( Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. We rated the service as requires improvement. At this inspection we found that the provider had made the required improvements and rated the service as Good.

Sparrowfields is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. Sparrowfields provides care and support for a maximum of six people who are living with a learning disability, autism or mental health conditions. There were six people living at the home at the time of the inspection.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

There was a registered manager in post at the time of our inspection. However, they were on annual leave and a senior staff member and the provider’s quality manager supported us with our inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People were cared for by staff who were trained in recognising and understanding how to report potential abuse. Staff knew how to raise any concerns about people’s safety and shared information so that people’s safety needs were met.

People were protected from risks associated with their health and care needs because risk assessments and associated care plans were developed holistically, reviewed and monitored. This ensured that people received the support they required to remain safe. Staff were aware of the risks to people when supporting them outside of the home in order to promote people’s safety in the community.

People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff who had the knowledge and skills they required to care for people safely and effectively.

Staff sought the expertise of specialist services and health and social care professionals to ensure that the care they provided to people was in keeping with legislation and best practice guidelines. This included advice and support specific to learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorders.

Staff understood the importance of ensuring people agreed to the care and support they provided and when to involve others to help people make important decisions. The provider was aware of their responsibilities in regard to the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) .

People were supported to enjoy a wide range of activities and were involved in their day to day care and chose how to spend their day. People were encouraged to maintain their independence and live active and fulfilling lives.

Staff were caring and treated people with respect. We saw people were relaxed around the staff supporting them and we heard and saw positive communication throughout our inspection. It was evident that people had developed positive relationships with staff and there was a friendly, calm relaxed atmosphere within the home.

People received support from staff to take their prescribed medicines as and when required. Systems and processes were in place to ensure medicines were managed safely. Staff understood their responsibilities in relation to hygiene and infection control.

People were supported to maintain a healthy diet and were supported to maintain all their health needs.

Systems and processes were in place to monitor the safety and quality of the service and included the involvement of people who lived at the home and other stakeholders.