Background to this inspection
Updated
10 March 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
Two inspectors carried out the inspection.
Service and service type
Briar 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 inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included safeguarding information and statutory notifications. Statutory notifications are information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We communicated with three people who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. People who used the service who were unable to talk with us used different ways of communicating including using objects and their body language. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager and care workers. We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and six medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at audits and quality assurance records.
Updated
10 March 2022
About the service
Briar House is a care home providing personal care to up to 6 people. Briar house supports people who are living with a learning disability, autism and epilepsy. There were 6 people living at the service at the time of inspection.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were safe at Briar house and appeared relaxed and comfortable in the environment. Staff knew people well and risks to people were well managed and assessed.
People were well supported and had their needs responded to quickly. There was enough staff to support people and staff had received appropriate training to support them to carry out their roles. People received their medicines correctly and medicine was given by staff who were competent to do so.
The home was clean and tidy and good infection prevention and control procedures were implemented and monitored. Lessons were learned and shared with staff members to improve the quality of care provided to people. Accidents and incidents were monitored and any actions were shared with the team.
People received personalised care that was individual to them and their needs. Care plans were detailed and personalised. There was information about peoples lives and their likes and dislikes which enable staff to provide personalised care. Staff were kind and caring with people, they spent time with people and would adapt their approach as needed to provide the appropriate care.
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 supported to live their lives in the way in which they wished, the service took a proactive approach to managed risk and independence to ensure people could have complete choice and control over their lives.
A variety of audits and monitoring systems were in place for the registered manager to maintain oversight over the service. The service had good working relationships with other healthcare professionals and would make appropriate referrals as required.
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.
Right Support: The model of care and setting maximised people’s choice, control and independence. People were supported to live their lives they way in which they wished and were supported to pursue their personal interests.
Right Care: Staff were adaptable in their approach to care based on how people were feeling. This allowed staff to provide personalised care that met people’s needs.
Right culture: There was a positive culture in the service that promoted independence. There was an open and empowering leadership culture, this allowed staff to adopt and caring and proactive approach when delivering care.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Why we inspected
We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture.
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.