The Springfield

Updated 28 June 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

The inspection was carried out by 1 inspector.

Service and service type

The Springfield 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. The Springfield 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

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 provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 22 May 2023 and ended on 30 May 2023. We visited the location’s service on 22 May 2023 and 23 May 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. 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 sought feedback from the local authority and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 3 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 10 staff members including care managers, support workers, a senior support worker, the registered manager, and the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We reviewed a range of records including 2 people’s care and support plans, risk assessments and medicines records. We reviewed 3 staff files in relation to recruitment. We reviewed a variety of records relating the management and quality monitoring of the service.

Updated 28 June 2023

About the service

The Springfield is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to 2 people. The service provides support to people who have a learning disability and/or autistic people. At the time of our inspection there were 2 people using the service.

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

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.

Right Support

People were supported by staff who understood their needs and preferences well. 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 had received training around the specific needs of people and provided support in accordance with people’s abilities and level of independence. The environment met peoples sensory and physical needs and the delivery of care was person-centred.

Right Care

People were cared for by skilled and compassionate staff, who encouraged independence whilst promoting privacy, dignity, and choice. Relatives praised the staff approach which was described as “Fantastic,” and, “Amazing.” People were supported to pursue meaningful activities in the local community and maintain relationships that were important to them. People were supported to achieve positive outcomes in different areas of their lives.

Right culture

The management team had instilled a culture of learning and development, which ensured people could lead confident, inclusive, and empowered lives. Relatives praised the staff and management team and felt directly engaged in the running of the service. Staff spoke of a positive and motivated workforce that placed people at the centre of their care. The registered manager understood the needs of people well and had a strong understanding of partnership working and developing positive and meaningful outcomes for people.

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 18 December 2020 and this is the first inspection.

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.