Sunnyside Respite Service

Updated 29 March 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 care homes with outbreaks of COVID-19, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice is safe and that services are compliant with IPC measures This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider has 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 11 February 2022. We called the service to give three hours notice of the inspection.

Updated 29 March 2022

About the service

Sunnyside Respite Service is care home providing care and support for 13 younger adults with a learning disability at the time of our inspection. The service can support up to 15 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 15 people in two separate buildings. One building was used for respite care and could accommodate up to four people at any one time. The other building supported people permanently, 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. Staff were 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

People were safe, and staff understood safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures and when they would be required to instigate. Accidents and incidents were monitored, and lessons were learnt. There were adequate numbers of staff available to meet people’s needs. Safe recruitment systems were in place and followed.

Medication management was safe, people received their medication as prescribed. Risks associated with people’s care and support had been identified, contained good detail to ensure risks were managed safely.

Staff were very knowledgeable about people needs, care was person-centred and individualised. Staff said training was good and from talking with staff and our observations it was effective. Staff were supervised and supported.

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 and become more independent. 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 received a balanced diet that met their needs. People had access to health care professionals. The environment was well maintained and homely. There was also access to outside space.

Staff were kind, caring and compassionate. Our observations evidenced staff interacted extremely positively with people and knew them well. Relatives told us the staff were lovely and genuinely cared. People were involved in their care planning to ensure their decisions and choices were reflected. We looked at care records and found they had identified people’s needs and reflect people’s choices. People received individualised, personalised care.

People were listened to and complaints were appropriately dealt with and resolved. Where appropriate end of life care was included in care plans to ensure people’s decisions were respected.

There was a manager who was registered with CQC. Quality monitoring was carried out using various audits tools. The service promoted an open, inclusive and positive culture. People and relatives were involved in the service, quality questionnaires were sent out and regular meetings were held.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published March 2017). The service remains rated good.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk