Background to this inspection
Updated
11 January 2020
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 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
Barn Close 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
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 other professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us 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 spoke with 14 people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 10 members of staff including the registered manager, care officers, care workers and a cook.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We also viewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
11 January 2020
About the service
Barn Close is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 39 people. At the time of the inspection there were 35 people living there.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were overwhelmingly positive about the excellent service they received. They described it as “just lovely” and “the best in Cumbria”. The service succeeded in helping people to continue to lead interesting, fulfilled lifestyles. Staff sought out people’s own aspirations and helped people to achieve them.
Relatives and staff told us this service was exceptional and contrasted dramatically from any other provision they had experienced or worked in. Care professionals said the service was “amazing” and “a joy to visit”. Staff had an excellent working relationship with other care agencies for the benefit of the people who lived there.
The service had developed significant new initiatives to support and improve people’s well-being. These included a new spa facility solely for the people who lived there. People said the treatments had already had a therapeutic impact on their well-being.
People and relatives praised the staff for their care and kindness. Staff made sure people were treated with dignity and respect, and their privacy was protected. People were offered choices and their decisions were respected.
The service was safe. Risks to people’s health and safety were assessed and mitigated. Medicines were managed in a safe way. There were enough staff to make sure people received care and support whenever they needed it.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff assisted them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service upheld this practice.
People said the service was well-run. They were asked for their views at meetings and in surveys. They had information about how to raise issues and were happy with the way these were dealt with. Staff said the management team were open, approachable and supportive.
The provider and registered manager were committed to continuous improvement of the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This was the first rating since the provider’s new registration on 2 November 2018.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the new registration date.
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.