St. Helens House

Updated 24 November 2022

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

The inspection team consisted of two inspectors 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.

St Helen’s House is a ‘care home’. People in this care home received accommodation and personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. St Helen’s 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.

This service is also a domiciliary care agency. It is registered to provide personal care to people living in their own houses and flats and specialist housing. At the time of our inspection the service was not supporting anyone.

This service also provides care and support to people living in three ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are required to be provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

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

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced on the first visit and subsequent visits to the service were announced. Inspection activity started on 10 August 2022 and ended on 28 September 2022. We visited the service on 10 August 2022,13 September and 28 September 2022. The extended period of this inspection was to allow us to accurately establish the services being delivered at each of the premises.

What we did before the 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 also used information gathered as part of monitoring activity that took place on 22 June 2022 to help plan the inspection and inform our judgements. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke to people who use the service, staff and relatives. We spoke to one service user, four relatives of people, four staff members and the registered manager. We reviewed three peoples care plans, training records, personnel files and maintenance of the building records.

Updated 24 November 2022

About the service

St. Helens House is a care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to four people. They also provide personal care to people in supported living and their own homes. The service provides support to people with dementia, learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorder, mental health concerns, older people, physical disability and younger adults. At the time of our inspection there was one person at the care home and six people receiving personal care in supported living services.

Personal care services were provided to people living in three supported living homes. They all have multiple occupancy not exceeding four people per house. All properties had an office and sleep in facilities available to staff, if required.

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.

No domiciliary care services were being provided at the time of inspection.

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

Right Support: Staff did not spend time with people to identify their interests and preferences. They did not plan, organise or support them to access a range of activities. A relative told us, “they don’t take them anywhere,” telling us staff they saw staff sitting and watching T.V. However, staff told us people would often to say “no, to choices (when offered) but will then ask us to walk around the park.” Staff supported people to play an active role in maintaining their own health and wellbeing. Staff told us they prompted people to do things for themselves where they were able to. Relatives told us “they always have clean clothes.” Staff, people and families knew how to make a complaint. Concerns were investigated and acted upon and assurance sought that people were safe.

Right Care: People could communicate with staff and understand information given to them because staff supported them consistently and understood their individual communication needs. Staff told us about individual people’s preferences and how they supported and respected their routines. Relatives told us “They know (the person), no complaints on the care.”

Relatives told us the supported living home was “nice, warm and welcoming…It is the best place they have been in. They are safe.” Staff told us they are always available and present to support people to cook their meals. People were supported to personalise their rooms and relatives told us their family member was happy and showed them around their room.

Right Culture: Staff knew and understood people well. Relatives told us the staff were polite, supportive and welcoming. They encouraged people to maintain relationships with family and friends. A relative told us “this is the first time I have had any piece of mind.” Staff were restricting some people from going out freely due to concern for their welfare. Staff told us how they accompanied people to the shops to ensure they were safe. For example, where people needed support regarding road safety. However, we found appropriate assessments and authorisations had not been conducted to support staff actions even though well intentioned. We found, some people in the supported living services did not have keys to access their properties and others were required to adhere to a curfew of 10pm or be locked out of the premises.

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

Why we inspected

This service was registered with us on 11 July 2019 and this is the first inspection.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements in four key questions; safe, effective, responsive and well led.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.