Phoenix House

Updated 13 January 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 18 December 2020 and was announced.

Updated 13 January 2021

About the service

Phoenix House is a residential care home providing personal care and accommodation to people with learning disabilities or autism. The service can support up to nine people. At the time of inspection, nine people were being supported by the service.

Since our last inspection in November 2018, the service had registered to provide personal care and support to people in their own homes. At the time of inspection, only one person was using this service; they were not receiving personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.

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 a large home. It was registered for the support of up to nine people. Eight people were using the service. 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 fitting into the residential area and the other large domestic homes of a similar size. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

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

Systems were in place to safeguard people from harm, including risk of abuse. Medicines were managed safely. The maintenance of the service had improved since our last inspection to help keep people safe and to prevent the spread of infection. Safe recruitment procedures were in place including pre-employment checks. The service learnt from accidents and incidents to provide safe care and support.

Staff received training, supervision and appraisal to fulfil their role and responsibilities. The service worked with health and social care professionals to ensure people’s nutritional needs and health care needs were met. 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.

People were treated in a caring manner by staff. Where possible, people and their relatives were involved in the planning and review of their care. Staff treated people with respect and dignity and promoted their independence.

People received person centred care. They were supported to follow their interests and hobbies and with accessing the local community. People received information in accessible formats. There was a complaints procedure in place and relatives told us they felt any concerns would be listened to and acted upon. We have made a recommendation about end of life care.

Quality assurance systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service provided. Without exception relatives told us they would recommend the service to others.

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

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.

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 (published 4 January 2019) and there was one breach 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.

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.