Background to this inspection
Updated
4 November 2021
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 Care Act 2014.
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
Duxbury House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we held about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority commissioning team. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We took this into account when we inspected Duxbury House and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke about Duxbury House with four people, a staff member and the registered manager. We walked around the building to carry out a visual check. We did this to ensure Duxbury House was clean, hygienic and a safe place for people to live. We looked at records related to the management of the service. We checked care records and looked at medication procedures; staffing and recruitment; infection control protocols; environmental hygiene and safety; people’s feedback; leadership; and quality oversight.
Updated
4 November 2021
About the service
Duxbury House is a care home providing personal care to six people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to six adults living with a learning disability and mental health conditions. Duxbury House is situated in a residential area of Blackpool close to the promenade. A lounge, dining room and paved external areas are available for people to choose where to relax.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Staff demonstrated a good awareness about safeguarding people from harm or abuse. The registered manager completed risk assessments to guide staff to support each person safely. People stated they felt safer with staff administering their medicines and confirmed they received them on time. The home was clean throughout and there were good stocks of PPE for staff use during the current pandemic. Staff went about their duties calmly and patiently, spending time sitting down talking with people.
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. We found elements of care plans included recorded actions to assist people that were strict in nature, which could infer restrictive practice.
We have made a recommendation about support planning.
The registered manager and staff worked in a multi-disciplinary approach with local services to optimise continuity of care. Care records contained risk assessments to mitigate the risk of malnutrition. The registered manager provided a training programme to develop staff skills.
The registered manager and staff were respectful of people’s diverse cultures. Care and communication included detailed recording of people’s backgrounds and life stories to increase awareness of each person and their needs.
The registered manager engaged with people to understand their life histories and create personalised care plans. They and their staff provided regular and ad hoc activities to maximise people’s wellbeing and social skills. The provider had not received any formal complaints, but provided information to people about raising issues they may have.
People and staff talked about an open culture where they were encouraged to raise any concerns or suggestions about improving the service. The registered manager regularly completed audits to check everyone’s safety and welfare.
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.
This service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture. Staff supported people to make their own decisions and lead discussions on what they wanted to do. Staff were consistently kind and respectful, ensuring each person maintained their independence and privacy. People confirmed they were happy and settled at Duxbury House.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was good (published 07 December 2017).
Why we inspected
The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about food hygiene, choice and liberty, management of people’s finances and support for them to access medical treatment services. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.
We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns.
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 coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Duxbury House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.