We carried out a review of the data available to us about Amersham House on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Amersham House, you can give feedback on this service.
Amersham House provides care and support to people living in their own homes as well as one supported living accommodation for up to five people. The supported living accommodation comprised of a terrace house with a rear garden. Each person had their own bedroom and en-suite with their own toilet and shower. There was a large staff office at the rear of the house. The service worked with people living with a mental health condition. At the time of the inspection the service was supporting two people.
The service is also registered to provide care and support to people with a learning disability and autistic people. At the time of the inspection the service was not providing care to this group of people. However, when/if the service does start to provide care to this group of people; 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.
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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and relatives told us they felt staff were kind, caring and supportive. There was a culture of empowering both people and staff to improve their experiences of care provided and working for the service.
People and relatives felt people were safe with the staff providing care. Staff had been trained in safeguarding and knew how to report any concerns. People received their medicines safely and on time. People’s known risks were assessed, and staff knew how to work with people to minimise risks. Staff were recruited safely, and appropriate checks were completed prior to staff starting work. Staff had been trained in infection control and current government guidance was being followed to keep people safe.
People received a comprehensive pre-assessment before starting to use the service. This ensured the service would be able to meet their care and support needs. Staff were supported through robust induction processes, supervision and regular training. This ensured staff were up to date with best practice. Where it was an identified need, people were supported around eating and drinking. 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.
People were encouraged to be as independent as possible and were supported with all aspects of daily living. This included, shopping, cooking, cleaning, managing their mental health and medicines.
People’s care was planned with their full involvement. People’s care was person-centred, and staff knew people well. Care plans documented how people wanted to receive their care. People were supported with activities that were meaningful to them as individuals. There was a clear complaints process, people and relatives were given information on how to complain. Relatives told us they were confident about raising any concerns and that they would be dealt with.
There was an open and inclusive culture at the service. People were encouraged to be partners in planning their care and support. People, relatives and staff were complimentary of the registered manager and the support they received. The registered manager was approachable and made time to speak with people and staff. People and relatives were encouraged to give feedback on the service. There were regular staff meetings where staff were able to raise any queries or questions they had. People were involved through community meetings and were able to put forward ideas. Staff told us they felt they worked as a team and like a family.
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 30 April 2020 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was the first inspection of the service based on the date of registration.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.