Hartleys Care

Updated 3 October 2018

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 registered provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

The inspection took place on 17 September 2018 and was announced. We gave the service three days’ notice of the inspection visit because it is small and people who use the service are often out. We needed to be sure they would be in so we could speak with them. The inspection was carried out by one inspector. At the time of our inspection there were three people using the service.

Prior to our inspection we gathered and reviewed information about the service to help us to plan and identify areas to focus on in the inspection. We considered all the information we held about the service. For this inspection we did not ask the provider to send us the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We spoke with two people who were receiving respite care at the service and one relative. We also spoke over the telephone with two relatives. We spent time looking around the home's facilities, including people's rooms, communal areas and bathing facilities.

We spoke with five staff including the registered manager, the team manager, senior support workers and support workers.

Prior to the inspection we contacted healthcare professionals who were involved with supporting people who lived at the home, such as the local authority, case managers and advocates. We also contacted Healthwatch Sheffield. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.

We looked at two people's care files and three staff records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the home. These included minutes of meetings, medication records and quality and monitoring checks carried out to ensure the home was operating to expected standards.

Updated 3 October 2018

Hartley’s Care is a 'care home' which provides short term support for people. 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 home specialises in supporting adults with learning disabilities. The care home accommodates up to five people in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection there were three people staying in the home.

This inspection took place on 17 September 2018 and was announced. This was the services first inspection since they changed provider in February 2018 and became registered with Principle Support Ltd.

You can read the report from our last inspections, by selecting the 'all reports' link for 'Hartley’s Care' on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

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. Registering the Right Support CQC policy.

The service had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are '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.

People who used the service, their relatives, staff and healthcare professionals spoke positively about Hartley’s Care and said it was a good place to go to.

People told us they felt safe and were protected from abuse by staff that were knowledgeable and had the right skills to meet their needs.

Risk assessments relating to people's health needs and the environment helped protect the health and welfare of people who used the service. People were supported to maintain good health.

Systems were in place to make sure people received their medicines safely, which included key staff receiving medicine training and regular audits of the system. People told us they always received their medicines at the appropriate times.

The registered provider had a policy and procedure in place for the safe recruitment of staff. There were appropriate numbers of staff employed to meet people's needs and provide a personalised service.

Staff supported people to eat and drink sufficient amounts to maintain their health. Where necessary, staff liaised with health and social care professionals to ensure effective care and support was provided to people. There were processes to ensure information was effectively shared so people's needs could continue to be met during the transition between home and the service.

The atmosphere in the home was supportive and caring. People had formed positive relationships with staff and clearly enjoyed their company. People were well supported to maintain their independence and staff maintained people’s rights to privacy and dignity.

People's needs were assessed and developed into a care plan. Care plans contained detailed information to enable people to receive appropriate care and support that was responsive to their needs. The registered manager and staff understood their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

People had the opportunity to choose, plan and take part in a range of activities that met their preferences and needs.

People's opinions were valued and they could be confident any concerns and complaints would be recognised, investigated and responded to.

The registered manager had a system of quality assurance checks to ensure the home was meeting required standards and people who used the service were well cared for. The home was clean, well maintained and decorated and safety checks of the premises were regularly completed.

The service had up to date policies and procedures which reflected current legislation and good practice guidance.