Cedar Bungalows

Updated 5 August 2021

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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Cedar Bungalows is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (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 the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since they registered with CQC. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to the inspection. This is information we require providers to send to give us some key information about the service, what the service does well and what improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We observed staff engaging and supporting people. We spoke with six staff, including the service manager who managed the service on a day to day basis.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records, risk assessments and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and supervision. A variety of records in relation to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We spoke with one person’s relative about their experience of the care and support provided. We spoke with the registered manager. We sought and received feedback from health care professionals who worked with the service. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at two more recruitment files, training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 5 August 2021

About the service

Cedar Bungalows is a residential care home providing personal care to up to four people. There were two people living at the service at the time of the inspection. There are seven individual bungalows, of which a maximum of four are lived in at any one time. The service supports people with mental health and behavioural support needs, learning disabilities and / or autism who are transitioning from acute or secure services.

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

People were supported to stay safe. Potential risks to people’s health, safety and welfare, including COVID-19, were identified and there was guidance, followed by staff, to mitigate risks. People’s medicines were safely managed, and they received them as prescribed.

People were supported by a core team of staff who knew them well. Staff were kind and compassionate. Staff completed regular training to keep up to date with best practice.

Care was planned with people, their relatives and health care professionals. Assessments considered people’s protected characteristics, such as sexuality, disability, religion and culture.

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 supported to maintain contact with their loved ones. Relatives spoke positively about the support their loved ones received. A relative said, “[My loved one] is doing a lot more than he was a year ago. He is really happy and definitely settled there.”

Checks and audits were completed to monitor the quality and safety of the service. There was an open culture where people and staff were valued as individuals. The management and staff worked as a cohesive team. Staff said, “[The service manager] is firm, fair and friendly. A brilliant corrective coach.”.

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 the Care Quality Commission (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.

Each person lived in a bungalow and was supported by a small, consistent team of staff who knew them well. People had built strong relationships with the staff. People’s relatives spoke positively about the changes in their loved ones since moving to the service. There was clear leadership at the service.

Right support:

• Model of care and setting maximises people’s choice, control and independence. People were supported to stay active and follow their interests both at the service and in the wider community.

Right care:

• Care was person-centred and promoted people’s dignity, privacy and human rights. People were supported by staff who knew them well and treated them with kindness. Staff showed genuine compassion for the people they supported.

Right culture:

• Ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensure people using services lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives. The management and staff worked as a cohesive team. People’s relatives, staff and health care professionals worked collaboratively to ensure there were good outcomes 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 30 November 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the length of time since the service registered with CQC.

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 until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.