DRS Annexe Care Home

Updated 5 November 2022

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

This inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service

Service and Service Type

DRS Annexe Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. DRS Annexe Care Home is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations. At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

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 and professionals who work with the service. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers 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 nine people who use the service and three relatives. We spoke with the registered manager, the director of operations and four care staff. We reviewed four people’s care plans including their risk assessments and healthcare records. We looked at four staff files and quality audit records.

Updated 5 November 2022

About the service

DRS Annexe Care Home is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to 12 people with mental health needs and learning disabilities. 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. At the time of our inspection there were 11 men living in the home.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

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.

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

Right Support:

The model of care and setting maximised people’s choice, control and independence. Staff supported people to make decisions following best practice in decision-making. Staff communicated with people in ways that met their needs. The provider had an effective system in place to ensure people’s consent was obtained in line with legislation.

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.

Right Care:

Care was person-centred and promoted people’s dignity, privacy and human rights. Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. The service worked well with other agencies to do so. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it. People using the service were protected from abuse because staff had a good understanding of safeguarding and how to report concerns. People told us they were safe living at the service. Care records contained risk assessments with clear guidance for staff to follow. Medicines were managed safely. Staff were recruited safely. The premises were clean and well maintained.

Right Culture:

The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensured people using the service lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives. People received good quality care, support and treatment because trained staff and specialists could meet their needs and wishes. People's needs had been assessed before using the service. Care plans reflected these assessments. Relatives told us they were involved in people’s care planning and reviews. Staff were competent in their roles as they had the skills, experience and knowledge to provide quality care. Staff understood people's needs and worked well with health care professionals. The provider had effective auditing systems in place to monitor the quality of care. The service was well-led because the registered manager was knowledgeable and had good oversight of the service and the needs of people.

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 28 November 2018). At this inspection we found the rating remained the same.

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about the management, staffing levels, staff recruitment and medicines. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, effective and well-led only.

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.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.