Queensbridge Respite

Updated 28 February 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 completed by one inspector.

Service and service type

Queensbridge respite is a ‘care home’ providing short break services for people. 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 the inspection

We reviewed information we received about the service since the last inspection including changes, events or incidents the provider is legally obliged to send us within a required timescale. We sought feedback from the local authority and safeguarding authority 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

Some people who used the service were not able to share their views on the care they received. We met and spent time with six people who were having a break and 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 spoke with one family member during the site visit, and a further five by telephone, about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with nine members of staff including support workers, housekeeping, the two assistant managers, the registered manager, the operation manager and the quality and compliance manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records, person-centred plans and medicine records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and a recent quality assurance audit and report.

Updated 28 February 2020

About the service

Queensbridge Respite is a care home providing a short break service for adults who have a learning disability or a physical disability. The service can provide care and support for up to six people at a time. At the time of the inspection 60 people were registered for short breaks at Queensbridge.

The service was registered and designed before the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance was introduced. 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.

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

People received care and support from a staff team who were exceptionally well managed, highly skilled and committed to providing a high-quality service. There was a shared ethos of valuing each person as an individual with strengths, ambition and aspirations.

Staff were committed to supporting people to develop their independence, learn new skills and grow in confidence. Every achievement was acknowledged and celebrated be it cooking a meal for people or moving to a residential college.

The staff team were proactive in working with people, family members and other professionals to develop bespoke transition plans and care and support plans. People were equal partners in their care and support and introductions to Queensbridge Respite were led by the person and their individual needs. Any specific equipment or training staff needed to keep people safe and well cared for during their short break was provided before people visited the service.

There was a culture of inclusion and staff worked together to develop and review support strategies. All incidents were reflected on, so the team and organisation could learn and improve. Any changes to care and support plans were discussed with family members and people so their was full inclusion and agreement.

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 were kind, caring and compassionate towards people, respecting and promoting people’s dignity and independence. People were communicated with using their preferred method of communication and in this way were involved in making decisions about their care and support.

Staff worked in partnership with other agencies to provide consistent and effective care and support. Feedback from other professionals was incredibly positive with one care provider stating the support had been “invaluable.”

The service applied the principles and values the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure 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. 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 (and update)

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (report published 20 February 2019) and there were two breaches of regulation. 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 the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

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.