Clifton House

Updated 10 May 2023

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 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

One inspector carried out this inspection.

Service and service type

Clifton House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Clifton House is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

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 used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 4 people using the service and 3 staff. We asked them for their views about the safety and quality of care and support provided at the service. We observed interactions between people and staff to understand people’s experiences. We reviewed a range of records. This included 2 people's care records, records relating to medicines management, 2 staff recruitment files, and other records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 10 May 2023

About the service

Clifton House is a care home providing personal care to up to 16 people. The service provides support to people with mental health conditions and some people also had a learning disability. At the time of our inspection there were 11 people using the service. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

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

Right Support: Model of Care and setting that maximises people’s choice, control and independence

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 were trained in safeguarding to keep their knowledge of their responsibilities up to date. The registered manager reported any allegations to the local authority safeguarding team and reviewed safeguarding investigations, accidents and incidents and feedback on the service to improve. Health and safety checks were carried out of the premises and equipment to make sure they were safe. The premises were clean, tidy and hygienic and staff followed current infection control and hygiene practice to reduce the risk of infections.

Right Care: Care is person-centred and promotes people’s dignity, privacy and human rights

People received the right support in relation to risks, such as those relating to mental health conditions and learning disabilities. There were enough staff to support people safely and staff knew people well. The provider checked staff were suitable to work with people through recruitment checks. Staff received training in infection control practices, including the safe use of personal protective equipment (PPE). People received the right support in relation to their medicines and the provider had good oversight of this through electronic systems and audits.

Right Culture: The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensure people using services lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives.

The service was managed well and the registered manager was experienced and understood their role, as did all staff we spoke with. The registered manager oversaw the service with regular checks and reviews to ensure people received good quality care. Communication with people, relatives and staff was good and their feedback was used as part of improving the service. Staff felt well supported. Care was provided in a person-centred way. The provider worked with local health and social care services to ensure people received the care they needed.

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

Rating at last inspection

At the last inspection the service was rated good (report published October 2018).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.