Huntsman's Lodge DCA

Updated 14 January 2021

We carried out this targeted inspection to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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 carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency providing care and support to people living in supported living.

The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. At the time of our inspection, the manager was in the process of applying to the Care Quality Commission for registration. The provider is 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 48 hours' notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 24 November 2020 and ended on 25 November 2020. We visited the office location on 24 November 2020 and contacted people, relatives and staff by telephone to gather their views on 25 November 2020.

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. We focused our inspection planning on concerns we had received in relation to people's safety, in order to assess if the service was safe and well led.

During the inspection

We spoke with the manager and reviewed a range of records at the service office. These included records relating to the control and prevention of infections and audits and checks to support the governance of the service. We also contacted two people who used the service, one relative and three staff members by telephone to gather their views.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found around the provider's infection control policy and procedures.

Updated 14 January 2021

This announced inspection took place on 26 April and 02 May 2018.

The service provides care and support to people living in ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. People using the supported living service lived in two ‘houses in multi-occupation’. Houses in multiple occupation are properties where at least three people in more than one household share toilet, bathroom or kitchen facilities. At the time of our inspection, there were eleven people in receipt of personal care support. The service provides support to younger and older adults with learning disabilities.

Not everyone using Huntsman’s Lodge DCA receives regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care'; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also take into account any wider social care provided.

There was 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.

At our last inspection on the 12 January 2016, we rated the service ‘Good’. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of ‘Good’ and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and on going monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People continued to receive safe care. Staff understood their responsibilities to keep people safe from harm. Safeguarding procedures were in place and staff understood their duty to report potential risks to people’s safety.

People received their medicines as prescribed and risk assessments were in place to manage risks within people’s lives. There were arrangements in place for the service to make sure that action was taken and lessons learned when things went wrong, to improve safety across the service.

Staffing levels ensured that people's care and support needs were safely met and safe recruitment processes were in place.

Staff induction training and on-going training was provided to ensure that staff had the skills, knowledge and support they needed to perform their roles. Staff were well supported by the registered manager and senior team, and had regular supervision meetings.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People were involved in their own care planning and were able to contribute to the way in which they were supported.

Staff supported people to access support from healthcare professionals, and supported them to maintain a healthy lifestyle. The service worked with other organisations to ensure that people received coordinated and person-centred care and support.

Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect and spent time getting to know them and their specific needs and wishes.

The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and had a process in place which ensured people could raise any complaints or concerns.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.