Humberston

Updated 17 April 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.

Service and service type

Heathcotes Humberston is a ‘care home’. 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 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 service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

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 made the judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service and a relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff including the regional manager, registered manager and team leaders. We also spoke to a professional visiting the service.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 17 April 2020

About the service

Heathcotes Humberston is a residential home providing personal care and support to younger adults living with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorders. The service was registered to provide support to up to eight people and there were seven people using the service at the time of our inspection. The service is provided in one adapted building across two floors.

Services for people with learning disabilities and or autism are supported

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 was appropriate and inclusive for them.

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

People living at the service were safe. The provider had policies and procedures in place, staff had completed safeguarding training and could identify, and report concerns appropriately.

Staff were recruited safely; all checks were completed to ensure they were safe to work with vulnerable people. They received an induction, training and shadowing prior to starting work. Medicines were managed and administered safely. Records confirmed people had received their medicines as prescribed.

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. Staff cared about the people they were supporting and respected their wishes.

People received person-centred care from kind and caring staff who knew people well. Care plans and risk assessments were in place and regularly reviewed. People and their relatives were involved in decisions about their care and they felt listened to.

People were encouraged to maintain relationships and to access the community to prevent social isolation. They accessed a variety of activities which enhanced their well- being. People and their relatives told us they knew how to make a complaint and were confident these would be dealt with.

The service was well managed. The registered manager and staff had a clear understanding of their roles and responsibilities and staff understood when to escalate any concerns for further investigation and transparency. Quality assurance processes were in place. Regular checks, audits and feedback were reviewed to ensure standards were maintained, and where improvements were required, these were actioned.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 15 March2019 and this is the first 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.