St Alban's

Updated 4 November 2021

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Service and service type

St Alban’s is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and 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 alongside the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run, and 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 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 four people who used the service and observed how they interacted with staff throughout the day. We spoke with two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager and care workers.

We looked at two peoples care records and two staff records. We looked at information relating to the management of medicines, policies and maintenance of the premises. We spoke to one professional who was visiting the service.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with a relative and an advocate.

Updated 4 November 2021

About the service

St Alban’s is a care home providing accommodation for people who require personal care, for up to six service users, some of whom are living with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of our inspection there were six people living in the home. The home has a communal lounge area, a dining room, and an outside garden area on the ground floor. On the first floor, were bedrooms with ensuite facilities.

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

People and relatives told us safe care was provided. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs and staff were aware of how to recognise and report safeguarding concerns. Medicines were managed safely. Care plans and risk assessments were regularly reviewed and completed in line with peoples assessed needs. Staff were recruited safely, however, clearer evidence was required to show how employment gaps had been fully explored.

Accidents and incidents were documented, and any actions taken to learn from lessons and improve the quality of care. There were some concerns regarding the correct wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE). There was good infection control practices seen in regards to maintaining a clean environment, admissions, testing and an infection prevention control policy was in place.

Governance systems were in place however, they had been ineffective in identifying concerns around PPE compliance, and one staff members' training needs. There was evidence of people and relatives being involved in reviews and person-centred outcomes. Prior to the inspection ending the registered manager had put an action plan in place to address issues raised.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

Based on our review of safe and well led the service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting some of the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. People were supported to make choices about their care and care was person centred to meet individuals’ needs.

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 13 April 2019).

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation to medication, staffing issues, the quality of records and fire safety concerns. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.

We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.

The overall rating for the service has changed remained the same. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns. Please see the safe and well led sections of this full report.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for St Alban’s on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

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.