Background to this inspection
Updated
11 December 2019
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 was conducted by one inspector.
Service and service type
Spring Bank is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as 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
We gave the home 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the home is small and we wanted to ensure that we would not disrupt people living at the home by arriving 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. 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. We took this into account when we inspected the service, and gave the provide the opportunity to share information with us.
We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with a family member about their experience of the care provided. People were unable to speak with us, so throughout the day we discreetly observed interactions between them and members of staff so as not to disrupt their routines. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, the nominated individual, a senior team leader and support workers. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment. We looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service.
After the inspection
The provider sent us additional information that we requested to show how they met regulations. This included training data and policies. We sought feedback from several professionals who regularly visit the service to further understand people’s experiences. We spoke with a further three family members about their experience of the care provided to their loved ones.
Updated
11 December 2019
About the service
Spring Bank is a residential care home providing personal care for up to seven younger adults with mental health needs, learning disabilities and/or autism. At the time of the inspection, five people were living within the home.
The home is a two storey detached house that has been adapted for its current purpose in the area of Brinsley. There is a large secure garden and the property is located on private land that has its own woods. Public transport is easily accessible and provides links to the local and wider community.
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. There were deliberately no identifying signs to indicate it was a care home. Staff did not wear anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were supported by staff who genuinely cared and were invested in continually improving people’s quality of life. A family member said, “My boy is so happy and I am a happy parent”. People were treated with dignity and staff actively encouraged people’s independence in innovative ways.
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 value 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 have new experiences and live meaningful lives.
People were supported to lead healthier lives and achieved positive outcomes. Staff had the relevant skills and appropriately training to ensure people were supported in an individualised way.
People were empowered to lead full and active lives, taking part in a wide variety of activities on a daily basis. Their care was planned in a very personalised way, with the full involvement of people that were important to them. There individual needs and preferences were met and staff built strong relationships and bonds with people.
There was a comprehensive governance structure in place to ensure continuous improvement and high quality standards of care. People’s families spoke positively about the leadership and management of the home since the new provider had taken over.
People were kept safe both in and out of the home due to the right number of trained staff supporting them at all times. As well as detailed comprehensive risk assessments being completed and followed. People were supported to take their medicines in a safe way.
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 08 June 2017). Since this rating was awarded the registered provider of the service has changed. We have used the previous rating to inform our planning and decisions about the rating at this inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection.
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.