The Moorings

Updated 29 July 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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 one inspector.

Service and service type

The Moorings 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 was managed by the registered provider, who are also referred to as 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before 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 (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually 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 spent time observing people and interactions between people and staff. We spoke with four members of staff including the provider, the deputy manager and two care staff. We reviewed a range of documents including two care plans, risk assessments and medicine records. We looked at five staff files which included details of recruitment, induction and supervision. We looked at audits, quality assurance documents and accident and incident reports.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and policies relating to safeguarding and medicines. We spoke with two professionals who regularly visit the service. We spoke with four relatives.

Updated 29 July 2022

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

The Moorings is a residential care home providing personal care for up to three people with learning disabilities. At the time of the inspection one person was living there. The service is an extended and adapted bungalow in a residential area. People lived on the ground floor which provided level access to all communal areas including an outdoor garden.

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

Right Support

People were supported to have choice and to be as independent as possible. Staff knew people well and focussed on helping people achieve the daily activities that they enjoyed. This included regular trips out and taking part in activities. People could choose where to spend their time, either in their bedrooms, the communal area of the service or an outdoor garden area. We saw people’s bedrooms which had personal items including photographs, pictures, music and televisions all of which meant people felt comfortable and able to do what they wanted in their rooms. People were supported to make daily choices about what jewellery to wear, what clothes they wanted to wear and what food and drink to have. Risk assessments were in place to safeguard people as they did the activities that they enjoyed.

Right Care

People’s equality and diversity were celebrated at the service by staff. Staff understood people’s cultural needs and supported people for example, arranging contact with local faith and support groups in the local community. Staff knew the best way to communicate with people. Usually communication was either verbal or through observing people’s reactions to suggestions or actions. People and staff used Makaton, a form of sign language, to communicate some things for example, emotions, whether people were happy or sad. Staff then responded appropriately. We spent time observing interactions between people and staff and these were caring and supportive, providing people with enough time to make their feelings or thoughts known.

Right culture

The provider sought advice from professionals and specialists to help support people and to meet their health and social care needs. Staff had been trained in safeguarding, diabetes, epilepsy and autism. Staff responded to people’s daily needs and to their wishes to be involved in activities away from the service. People were supported to spend time with their families and loved ones either on trips out for the day and sometimes for weekend visits.

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.

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture. This was a focussed inspection, we looked at our safe, effective and well-led domains. This was in response to information received about the management of risks at the service, the levels of training provided to staff and the management of the service.

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.

The inspection was unannounced.

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.