61 Kings Road Harrogate

Updated 13 July 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

One Inspector, two members of the CQC medicines team and an Expert by Experience carried out the inspection. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

61 Kings Road Harrogate 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. 61 Kings Road Harrogate is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with CQC 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

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with 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. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, support workers and the head of residential care services.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and five people’s medication records. We looked at two 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.

Updated 13 July 2022

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 the Care Quality Commission (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.

About the service

61 Kings Road Harrogate, is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to five people at the time of the inspection. The service supports people with a learning disability and/or autism and people who have a visual impairment. The service can support up to five people. 61 Kings Road Harrogate, is a large terrace house with bedrooms, a shared bathroom and communal living areas across three floors.

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

Right Support

The service supported people to have the maximum possible choice, control and independence. Staff focused on people’s strengths and promoted what they could do, so people had a fulfilling and meaningful everyday life. People were supported by staff to pursue their interests. The service gave people care and support in a safe, clean and well-furnished environment that met their sensory and physical needs. Further maintenance was on-going in people’s bedrooms and to personalise communal spaces recently redecorated. Staff supported people with their medicines in a way that promoted their independence and achieved the best possible health outcome.

We recommended the provider reviewed their quality checks of medicines.

Right Care

People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people’s privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual needs. The service had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe most of the time. Staffing needed reviewing for evenings and weekends when this was reduced and we made a recommendation around this. People’s care, treatment and support plans did not always reflect their range of needs and support required. However, people received care that supported their needs due to stable and consistent staff team. There was a lack of clarity and monitoring of people’s goals, aspirations and quality of life; we made a recommendation around this. People could take part in activities and pursue interests that were tailored to them. The service gave people opportunities to try new activities that enhanced and enriched their lives. The provider had created a day service and a range of activities including paid employment to enrich people’s lives, build on skills and independence and enable social interaction with peers.

Right culture

People led inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management and staff. Staff knew and understood people well and were responsive and supported them to live a life of their choosing. Staff placed people’s wishes, needs and rights at the heart of everything they did. The service enabled people and those important to them to give feedback and be involved in the persons care and treatment. Staff valued and acted upon people’s views. Staff ensured risks of a closed culture were minimised so that people received support based on transparency, respect and inclusivity.

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

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of right support right care right culture. We also inspected this service to provide the new provider with a 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.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, (published on 2nd February 2019).

For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Enforcement

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to discharge our regulatory enforcement functions required to keep people safe and to hold providers to account where it is necessary for us to do so.

We have identified breaches in relation to good governance and safeguarding at this inspection.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.