The Haven

Updated 29 January 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 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

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

The Haven 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 we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

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

During the inspection

We spoke with one person who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, senior care staff and care staff. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three 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 seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with one person and five relatives of people who regularly receive respite care at The Haven.

Updated 29 January 2022

About the service

The Haven is a care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to two people with either a physical disability, a learning disability or autistic people. People do not live at The Haven, they stay there for short breaks or respite care, usually a few days to a week in duration. At the time of our inspection, two people were staying at the home.

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

Quality assurance processes at the home required further development. We found that some documents required improvement, this included ensuring information was effectively recorded in people's support plans. Staff felt able to approach the registered manager with any concerns. The registered manager was knowledgeable about the regulatory requirements of their role

Risks to people were safely monitored and managed and regularly reviewed. People were protected from the risk of the spread of infection. This included safe COVID-19 practices. People were supported to meet their individual needs in a safe way by staff. There were enough staff to support people. Staff had been recruited safely. Medicines were managed safely.

People's needs, and choices were assessed, and staff knew people well. Staff received training relevant to the needs of people they supported.

People were supported by staff who were kind and caring and treated people as individuals. We observed positive interactions between staff and people. People's individual needs and choices were respected be staff and staff appreciated people's unique personalities. Staff spent time speaking to people and engaging their interests. Staff spent time speaking to people and engaging their interests. People were encouraged by staff to be independent and do as much for themselves as possible.

People's support was personalised to their needs and people were in control of how they spent their time at the home. People's support plans contained information on how to encourage people to achieve things for themselves. People were supported by staff who understood their individual communication needs. People were supported with a range of activities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.

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.

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

Right support:

• Model of care and setting maximises people’s choice, control and independence

People's opinions and choices were valued and respected by staff. Staff understood how to support people safely. There were no identifying signs outside the home that indicated it was a care setting.

Right care:

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

Staff respected people's dignity and privacy and gave people space when they wanted it. People were supported to make their own choices. People received care and support that met their individual needs.

Right culture:

• Ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensure people using services lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives

The culture of the staff team was positive towards people and staff focused on what people could achieve. Staff were positive about the support provided by the management team and their peers.

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

This service was registered with us on 12 June 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out due to the length of time the provider had been registered with CQC without receiving a formal rating.

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.

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.