Clearview

Updated 27 January 2022

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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Clearview 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 had about the service since they had registered. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who worked with the service. 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. We looked at other information we hold about the service including statutory notifications. We used all this information to help us plan our inspection.

During the inspection-

During the inspection we spent time with five of the people who lived at the service. Most of the people living at the service had limited verbal communication, which meant they were not able to tell us verbally about their experiences. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We looked around the home and spoke with the provider, registered manager and four members of staff. We looked at records relating to people’s care and the running of the home. This included four support plans, medicines records, incident forms and quality audits.

We had planned to go back to the service for a second day, however, due to changes of guidance relating to COVID-19 we completed the inspection via a video call with the registered manager.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We spoke with four relatives and four professionals who regularly visited the service.

Updated 27 January 2022

About the service

Clearview is a residential care home providing personal care and accommodation to people who have a learning disability. The home is registered to support a maximum of seven people. At the time of the inspection seven people were living at the service. People are accommodated in one large Victorian style building, with a range of individual and shared facilities.

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

At the time of the inspection one person was being supported due to a crisis in their previous placement. Another person was being supported with needs relating to dementia. Although we had no concerns about these people’s care, we made some recommendations to ensure best practice guidance continued to be taken into account for these people. The registered manager was very responsive to these discussions and following the inspection told us they had taken action to address the issues raised. This included developing the admissions policy and requesting support and advice in relation to person specific dementia care and training.

Management and staff at Clearview placed people at the heart of the service. The positive, friendly and trusting interactions we observed between people and staff told us people felt safe and comfortable in their own home.

Relatives and other agencies told us people were provided with sensitive, compassionate support by a kind, committed and caring staff team. Relatives said during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic staff had done everything they could to keep people connected. One relative said, “They did everything they could, we met outside the house, then in the garden, then in the porch, we had cups of tea and a catch up, it was lovely”.

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.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. 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. We saw people were able to enjoy a meaningful and fulfilled lifestyle, with community involvement and contact with family and friends. Where possible people were encouraged and supported to maintain their skills and independence and their personal wishes and goals were understood and reflected in their plan of care.

People were protected from the risk of abuse because staff understood how to identify and report concerns. Staff were safely recruited and there were enough staff to keep people safe.

People were supported by staff who understood and knew how to manage risks associated with their care and lifestyle. The homes infection control practices protected people and staff from the risks of cross infection. Medicines were managed in a safe way.

Staff told us they felt well supported by their colleagues and management. They said training was provided on a regular basis and was relevant to the needs of the people they supported.

There was a positive, open and inclusive culture within the service. The management team provided good leadership and led by example. There was a focus on continuous improvement and ensuring best practice. The registered manager was responsive to recommendations and discussions relating to on-going improvement.

Good governance of the service, which included regular audits and oversight by management benefitted people as it ensured the quality of the service was maintained and enhanced.

We have made recommendations about the admissions process and training. For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 23 July 2020 and this is the first inspection.

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was Good, published on 23 March 2018.

The change of provider name has been the only change for the service. The support and accommodation arrangements for people has remained the same.

Why we inspected

This was a planned comprehensive inspection as the service had not been inspected since it had registered under a new provider.

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 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.