Short Breaks Banstead

Updated 11 December 2019

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 completed by one inspector.

Service and service type

Short Breaks Banstead 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. Short Breaks Banstead is designed to support people for short term respite.

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. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work 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. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with one person about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with three members of staff including the registered manager. We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at four 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 training data and meeting minutes, as well as staffing levels and quality assurance records. We spoke with three relatives of people using the service and one professional who regularly visited the service.

Updated 11 December 2019

About the service

Short Breaks Banstead is a residential care home providing personal care. The service is a purpose built building designed for short stays and respite care for adults with physical and/or learning disabilities. The care home accommodates up to six people in one adapted building. Two people were using the service at the time of Inspection.

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 size of the service meets current best practise guidance. This promotes people living in a small domestic style property to enable them to have the opportunity of living a full life. It was registered for the support of up to six people. There were deliberately no identifying signs, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

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

People were safely supported and protected from harm. There were sufficient numbers of suitable staff employed who managed medicines safely and followed good infection control practise. Staff learnt lessons when problems arose.

People’s needs were effectively met. This was a result of their needs and risks being assessed appropriately and staff being suitably trained. People lived a comfortable life because the premises were suitably designed to meet their needs.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

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.

People were looked after by caring and considerate staff who showed how they had formed good relationships with the people using the service.

Staff worked consistently well with other health professionals. 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’s equality, diversity, privacy and dignity were respected and staff encouraged independence. Their views on their care were listened to. They were supported by caring and compassionate staff so their lives were as comfortable as possible.

Staff provided personalised care which meant people experienced good, individualised support. This was a result of the creation of person-centred care plans that staff followed. People’s communication needs were met with their individual needs documented in their care plans. Their concerns were addressed because complaints were responded to and well managed.

The registered manager promoted a positive culture amongst the staff. The registered manager and the staff team understood and acted on their duty of care responsibilities to be open and honest. Staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities. Partnership working was well established with other organisations or agencies for the benefit of the people that used the service. All of this resulted in the people experiencing a well-run service where their needs were met.

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

Rating at last inspection (and update)

The last rating for this service was Requires Improvement (published 18 October 2018). The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and no further recommendations were required to be made to the provider.

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 re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.