Daffodils

Updated 24 July 2021

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was completed by one inspector.

Service and service type

Daffodils 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 short notice of the site visit, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

What we did before the inspection

Prior to the inspection the provider sent us a Provider Information Return. Providers are required to send us information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

We reviewed information we held about the service, including statutory notifications. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law. We sought and received feedback from commissioners of the service. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

People living at the service were not able to give us verbal feedback about their care. To help understand people’s experiences, we spent time in the communal areas observing staff's interactions with people and the care provided. We spoke with one relative, one care worker and the registered manager about people's care. We reviewed people’s medication records.

After the inspection

We spoke with a further four relatives and two staff to gather their feedback on the service. We reviewed two people’s care records and staff records and records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 24 July 2021

About the service

Daffodils is a residential care home providing personal care to five younger adults with a learning disability and or autism at the time of the inspection. The home has been modified and designed specifically to meet the needs of the people who live there. Each person has their own bedroom and en-suite bathroom or wet room. There are two lounges and a large kitchen/diner for communal use. There is a secure garden and the former garage has been converted into an activities room for people’s use.

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

Relatives told us how positively staff had responded to the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and used their skills to adapt activities and identify opportunities for stimulation for people, which had enabled them to maintain their well-being during the pandemic and both develop new skills and build their confidence. Staff had used their knowledge of people’s interests to devise a range of activities and social events to meet each person’s needs. A relative commented, “They [staff] have been brilliant, I was so relieved at home knowing [person] was in safe hands in their care during lockdown. They go above and beyond.” Staff’s proactive interventions had prevented a person’s mobility deteriorating during the lockdown.

The service was tailored to meet the needs of each person and delivered to ensure they experienced flexibility, choice and continuity of care. People’s relatives told us how exceptionally well staff understood and met each person’s needs during the transition from their previous home, where everyone had previously lived together. This ensured people experienced a smooth move and settled into their new home with ease.

People’s needs were well met by the environment which was designed to meet their specific needs and wishes and drew on best practice guidance. As a result, it both promoted people's independence and increased their safety. As per people's wishes, there were different spaces for them to use for their preferred activities and private space both internally and externally. People, staff and relatives had created a stimulating and sensory garden. A relative told us, “I cannot stress how much care and attention [registered manager] showed in getting the environment right.”

Processes, procedures and staff training were in place to protect people from avoidable harm and abuse. Potential risks to people had been assessed and measures put in place to mitigate them. There were enough suitable staff to support people to stay safe and to meet their needs. The provider ensured people received their medicines safely from trained staff. Processes were in place to protect people from the risks of infection, including COVID-19. Processes were in place to review and evaluate incidents and learning took place.

People's care and support was planned and delivered in line with current guidance, best practice, legislation and the use of technology. Staff had the right competence, knowledge, qualifications, skills and experience to carry out their roles. Staff supported people to eat and drink enough and to maintain a balanced diet. Staff worked both with other organisations to ensure people received effective care and treatment.

Staff treated people with kindness, respect and compassion during the provision of their care. Staff supported people to express their views and to be involved in decisions about their care. Staff respected and promoted people’s privacy, dignity and independence.

The registered manager promoted a positive culture that was person-centred, open, inclusive and empowering, and which achieved good outcomes for people. A relative said, “[Registered manager] takes an interest in people’s families as a well as them. The whole family know [registered manager]. She always strives to be better than good. She wants the best for people.” The service had clear and effective governance and management arrangements. People, their relatives and staff were engaged and involved in the service in a meaningful way. Processes were in place to enable continual monitoring of the quality of the service and to drive improvements.

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.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

This service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

Right support:

The service met the needs of people in line with current best practice for their individual needs. This enabled people to experience a good quality of life. The service had been designed both with and for the people who lived there. It was centrally located within the community and staff enabled people to be part of their local community. The model of care provided focused on what people could do for themselves and maximised their abilities.

Right care:

The care people received was person-centred and promoted people’s dignity, privacy and human rights. The environment had been designed to be person centred and to promote the privacy and dignity of each individual. People’s care reflected their needs, rights, preferences and aspirations.

Right culture:

The registered manager was passionate about ensuring the people who lived at the service received high quality care and lived active and fulfilling lives. They promoted a positive working culture amongst the staff team who were proud of their work. The registered manager and staff had built excellent working relationships with people’s families, who saw and valued the impact upon the quality of life their loved ones enjoyed.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 04 April 2019 and this is the first inspection at this location. The last rating for the service at their previous location, where it used a different name, was Good, published on 16 March 2018.

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.