Strensham Hill Care Home

Updated 3 January 2020

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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Strensham Hill Care Home 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.

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 received about the service since the last inspection, which included information from local authority commissioners. We reviewed the information from Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. 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 used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke briefly to two people who used the service as most people did not communicate verbally. We also spoke with two members of staff including the registered manager and the operations manager. We spoke to the visiting medical professional who knew the service well. 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 reviewed the care records of two people using the service, and other records including those relating to medicines and quality assurance.

After the inspection

We spoke with two relatives. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. Appropriate information was sent to us in relation to quality assurance.

Updated 3 January 2020

About the service

Strensham Hill Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care for up to 10 people who have physical and or learning disabilities, including autistic spectrum disorders. The

accommodation is provided in an adapted home, with a lift, a specialist bathroom and shared dining room, lounge and rear garden.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to 10 people. Eight people were using the service. This is larger than current best practice guidance. However. the size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by the building design fitting into the residential area and the other large domestic homes of a similar size. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home.

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

People received personalised care from staff who knew them well. The provider ensured there were enough, suitably recruited and trained staff to meet people's needs and promote their wellbeing.

Staff knew how to protect people from the risk of abuse. Risks associated with people's care were identified and managed safely, including receiving their prescribed medicines. People were supported to maintain a varied and healthy diet and to access other professionals to maintain good health.

Staff were kind and caring, treated people with respect and promoted their privacy and dignity at all

times. People's diversity was recognised and promoted by the staff and very good systems were in place to meet people's communication needs. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives, in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People benefitted from a service that had an open and inclusive culture. The provider monitored the quality and safety of the service to ensure it remained safe for people. Staff enjoyed working at the service and felt supported and valued by the registered manager. People and their relatives felt confident any concerns and complaints they raised would be acted on. The provider listened and acted on people's views to drive improvements at the service.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 18 May 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

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