Background to this inspection
Updated
2 April 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
One inspector carried out this inspection
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in 20 ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. The service also provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community.
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
We gave the service 72 hours’ notice of the start of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 07 February 2020 and ended on 18 March 2020. We visited the office location on 10 February 2020.
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. 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. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We received feedback verbally and in writing from seven relatives about their experience of the care provided. We also received feedback verbally and in writing from 13 members of staff which included the registered manager, chief executive officer, service managers and support workers. We received feedback from seven external professionals. We reviewed a range of records. This included care records and a variety of records relating to the management of the service.
Due to the national pandemic Covid 19, and to reduce the risk of cross infection, we were unable to visit people in their homes to gather their feedback.
Updated
2 April 2020
About the service
Edmund House is registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of this inspection there were 79 people with a learning disability, who received personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Relatives were satisfied that people were happy with the service and the staff that provided their care. Staff were kind and caring, they involved people in their care and made sure people’s privacy was respected.
People were safe because staff knew what they were doing, they had been trained, and supported people in the way people wanted.
Staff assessed and reduced risks to people as much as possible. There were enough staff to support people with their care and support needs. The provider carried out key recruitment checks on potential new staff before they started work. The provider used temporary staff who knew people and the service well.
People received their medicines and staff knew how these should be given. Staff used protective equipment, such as gloves and aprons to prevent the spread of infection. Staff followed advice from health care professionals and made sure they asked people’s consent before providing care and support.
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.
Staff kept care records up to date and included national guidance if relevant.
The service was well managed by a registered manager. The staff team were passionate about giving people a high-quality service.
People and their relatives were asked their views of the service and action was taken to change any areas that they were not happy with. The provider had systems in place to effectively monitor and bring about improvements in the service. Concerns were followed up to make sure action was taken to rectify the issues raised.
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.
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 09 August 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 re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.