Bridge House (Somerset)

Updated 23 February 2018

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This was a comprehensive, unannounced inspection. It took place on 7 and 8 February 2018.

The inspection team included one adult social care inspector.

Prior to the inspection, we looked at previous inspection reports. We also reviewed the information we held about the service and notifications we had received. A notification is information about important events, which the service is required to send us by law. We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We received feedback from five of the 11 people using the service and used informal observation to see people’s experience of living at Bridge House.

We spoke with two people’s family members, five staff, a provider representative, and the registered manager.

We reviewed four people’s care records, sampled information from on-line staff files, training arrangements and looked at quality monitoring information relating to the management of the service and safety records. We received feedback from one health care professional and saw other feedback from questionnaires the service had received during 2017/18.

Updated 23 February 2018

Bridge House is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. 11 people with a learning disability were receiving care at Bridge House. They were between the ages of 29 and 67. Bridge House is a large terraced house adapted as a care home.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good.

At this inspection, we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good

People were safe at the service because recruitment, staffing, medicine management, infection control, and upkeep of the premises protected people from unsafe situations and harm. Individual risks to people were assessed and managed with as little restriction to the person as possible.

Staff had a good understood of how to protect people from abuse and discrimination. They knew to report any concerns and ensure action was taken. The registered manager was a strong defender of people’s rights and protection.

Staff were supported to be skilled and efficient in their roles and spoke of good teamwork and how much they liked working at Bridge House.

People’s legal rights were understood and upheld with as little restriction as possible. People’s health care needs were met through working with external health care professionals and staff’s detailed knowledge of the people using the service.

The premises provided people with a variety of spaces for their use with relevant adaptation to meet their needs where possible. Bedrooms were very individual and age and gender appropriate.

People received a home cooked and varied diet and specialist diets were met. Some people enjoyed eating out on a regular basis.

Staff promoted people’s dignity and privacy. The service was centred on each person as an individual. Staff were kind, caring and people enjoyed banter, laughter and a friendly atmosphere. Information was provided in different formats according to people’s communication needs. However, the organisation had expected people to complete a form, which would require good reading, and interpretative skills, which people using the service did not have. The registered manager will discuss this with the provider.

Support plans were detailed and reviewed with the person when possible, staff who supported the person and family members. Staff looked to identify best practice and use this to people’s benefit. Staff worked with and took advice from health care professionals.

Some people were reluctant to engage in activities but many options were available to them. These included art, crafts, music, sport, dancing, walking, and eating out. People had a holiday each year and went into the community on a daily basis. There was strong support of relationships with friends and family.

The registered manager showed strong leadership and a passion for the people in their care. People’s views were sought and opportunities taken to improve the service. Staff were supervised, supported and were clear what was expected of them. Audits and checks were carried out in-house and through the provider, so any problem could be identified and rectified.

The registered manager understood and met their legal responsibilities.