Springbank

Updated 21 July 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

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Springbank 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. Springbank 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 the information we held about the service and the service provider. 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 looked at the notifications and any safeguarding alerts we had received for this service. Notifications are information about important events the service is required to send us by law. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 2 people who lived at the home, 1 relative and 2 visiting professionals. We also spoke with 3 staff, the deputy and registered manager. We spent time observing people. We could see the interactions between people and staff. We reviewed a range of records. This included risk assessments, care records and medicines records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the home were viewed. This included health and safety records, maintenance checks and quality audits.

Updated 21 July 2023

About the service

Springbank is a 'care home' that provides care and support for up to 11 people. All the people who lived at the home had a learning disability. There were 11 people living there at the time of the inspection.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.

Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

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

The home was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.

Right Support:

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. Staff supported people in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this. Staff focused on people's strengths and supported people to take part in activities and pursue their interests.

Right Care:

People received kind and compassionate care. People's support plans reflected their range of needs and this promoted their wellbeing and enjoyment of life. Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. They had training on how to recognise and report abuse which was regularly updated. There were sufficient skilled staff to meet people's needs and encourage them to develop their life skills and independence. People received care that supported their needs and aspirations. They focused on their quality of life and followed best practice.

Right Culture:

People were supported by staff who understood best practice in relation to the wide range of strengths, impairments or sensitivities people with a learning disability and/or autistic people may have. People received compassionate and empowering care that was tailored to their needs. Staff turnover was very low, which supported people to receive consistent care from staff who knew them well. The registered manager and deputy had both worked at the home for many years. The staff team were passionate in ensuring people's rights were upheld and that each person's voice was heard or on their behalf through advocates. The staff were keen for people to live a life of fulfilment and supported people to live freely which included taking positive risks where possible.

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was good (published 10 January 2018). At this inspection we have rated the home good.

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection as part of a random selection of services rated Good and Outstanding. We inspected the key questions of Safe and Well led.

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 home remains good based on the findings of this inspection.

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.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for

Springbank 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.