Byron Court

Updated 11 September 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.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by three inspectors, a medicine inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of service. Two inspectors visited the home on 3 August 2021, whilst the third inspector and medicine inspector returned to the home on 4 August 2021. An Expert by Experience made phone calls to relatives on 6 August 2021.

Service and service type

Byron Court 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 did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) at the time of our inspection. A new manager had been recruited and was in the process of completing their induction. This meant the provider was legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

Notice of inspection

The inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection including the action plan the provider sent us. We sought feedback from the local authority. 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 used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We met all the people living at Byron Court, and spoke with four people who used the service. We spoke with eight staff members including, three care staff, peripatetic manager, deputy manager, locality manager, operational director and new manager. We spoke with four family members.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people's care records and seven people's medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment. We also looked at records that related to the management and quality assurance of the service

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records

Updated 11 September 2021

Byron Court is a residential care home for people living with a learning disability and autistic people. It is registered to provide personal care for up to seven people, at the time of the inspection seven people were living at the service.

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 guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability or autistic people.

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

People’s care and support was not always provided in a safe, clean, well equipped, well-furnished and well-maintained environment.

The service¿could¿show¿how they met the principles of Right support, right care, right culture.¿¿

People lead confident, inclusive lives which they have control. The ethos, values and behaviours of the management and staff support people to focus on areas of importance to them.

The needs and quality of life of people formed the basis of the culture at the service. Staff understood their role in making sure that people were always put first. We observed people receiving care that was genuinely person centred.

The leadership of the service had worked hard to create a learning culture. Staff felt valued and empowered to suggest improvements and question poor practice. There was a transparent and open and honest culture between people, those important to them, staff and leaders. Staff felt confident to raise concerns and complaints and were passionate to improve outcomes for 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.¿

People were protected from abuse and poor care. The service had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe.

People were supported to be independent and had control over their own lives. Their human rights were upheld.

We observed people receiving kind and compassionate care from staff who protected and respected their privacy and dignity and understood each person’s individual needs. People had their communication needs met and information was shared in a way that could be understood.

People’s risks were assessed regularly in a person-centred way, people had opportunities for positive risk taking. People were involved in managing their own risks whenever possible.

We observed people making choices and taking part in activities which were part of their planned care and support. Staff supported them to achieve their aspirations and goals.

People’s care, treatment and support plans, reflected their sensory, cognitive and functioning needs.

People received support that met their needs and aspirations. Support focused on people’s quality of life and followed best practice.

People received care, support and treatment from trained staff and specialists able to meet their needs and wishes. Managers ensured that staff had relevant training, regular supervision and appraisal. Competency checks had been completed with staff to ensure they had the understanding and skills to deliver safe care.

Staff understood their roles and responsibilities under the Human Rights Act 1998, Equality Act 2010, Mental Health Act 1983 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

People were supported by staff who understood best practice in relation to learning disability and/or autism.

People and those important to them, worked with leaders to develop and improve the service.

Our last inspection found a breach of regulation 9 (Person centred Care). This inspection found people being supported in a way which promoted their interests and considered individuals future aspirations.

Our last inspection found a breach of regulation 10 (Dignity and respect). This inspection found staff were respectful of people they supported and provided care in a dignified manner.

Our last inspection found a breach of regulation 11 (Need for consent). This inspection found that people were encouraged to make choices and decisions whenever possible.

Our last inspection found a breach of regulation 12 (Safe care and treatment). This inspection found staff were knowledgeable and confident in raising safeguarding concerns. Systems had been reviewed to ensure the safe management and administration of medicines.

Our last inspection found a breach of regulation 17 (Good governance). This inspection found improvements had been made and an audit system had been implemented to identify and address failings of the service.

Our last inspection found a breach of regulation 18 (staffing). This inspection found staff had received additional training and competency checks had been completed by senior staff. This provided assurance that staff had the skills required to provide safe and effective care. Staff were supported by the management team and worked together as a team.

The positive conditions imposed following our last inspection facilitated the development and improvement found during this inspection. The management team had reviewed processes and had led the development of the service and delivery to people.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

We undertook this inspection to provide assurance that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture.

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.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we received about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.