Poplars

Updated 12 March 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 team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type

Poplars is a ‘care home’. 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 had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority commissioning and safeguarding teams. 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.

During the inspection

We spoke with 5 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, senior support worker and two support workers. People who lived at the home were unable to tell about their experience of living at Poplars. Therefore, after the inspection we spoke on the telephone with five relatives of four people who lived at Poplars. We also spoke on the telephone with a senior manager for the organisation.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and random sample of medication records. We looked at three 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 requested further information regarding the management of complaints, from the registered provider to validate the evidence found. This was received, and the information was used as part of our inspection.

Updated 12 March 2020

About the service

Poplars is a care home providing personal care to 12 adults aged 18 and over at the time of the 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 service was registered for the support of up to 12 people. 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 and style.

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

There were systems in place to reduce the risk of harm to people. Where risks were identified, care records included the actions to be taken to reduce future risk. Staff recruitment was safe and there were sufficient numbers of staff employed to meet people’s needs. The management of medicines was safe. The home was clean and odour free.

New staff were supported with a period of induction. There was a programme of on-going training and supervision for all staff. Staff supported people to eat and drink to ensure their individual needs were met. Communication with the staff team was effective and people were enabled to access other health care professionals as required.

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.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. 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 supported by staff who were caring and kind. Staff respected people’s right to privacy, maintained their privacy and encouraged them to retain their levels of independence. Staff encouraged people to make choices and respected their decisions.

Each person had a person-centred care record which detailed the care and support they needed. People were enabled to maintain contact with their families and to participate in a varied programme of activities. Relatives were aware of how to complain in the event they were unhappy with the service their relative received.

Staff felt supported by the registered manager. There were systems in place to continually monitor the quality of the service. Where shortfalls were identified, actions were taken. House meetings had recently been introduced at the home. There were regular staff meetings and steps were being taken by the senior management team to engage with support workers. The staff were clear in their desire to continually improve the lives of the people they supported.

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 7 July 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.