Schankin House

Updated 10 May 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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Schankin House 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.

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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. At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since registration with CQC. 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. 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 spent time observing how staff supported people and communicated with them. Although people who used the service did not communicate verbally, one person communicated with us using methods such as Makaton, pictures, objects and their body language. We spoke by telephone with one relative. We also spoke with two care staff, a team leader and the registered manager.

We reviewed two people's care files, three staff files in relation to recruitment and supervision, the staff rota, menus, and a variety of records relating to the management of the service. We reviewed staff training records, the provider’s quality assurance systems written feedback received from professionals who worked with the service.

Updated 10 May 2022

About the service

Schankin House is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to up to three people. The service provides support to people with learning disabilities and/or a variety of associated health and support needs. At the time of our inspection there were three people using the service. Care was provided in one adapted building.

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

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 show how they were meeting the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.

Right Support

Staff supported people to take part in activities of their choice at the home and in the community. Relatives were positive about the support people received. Care plans were regularly reviewed to ensure people received the right support that met their needs. Staff communicated with people effectively and knew how to respond to their needs. The service was located in a residential area and people had access to community-based facilities. People received care and support in a clean, well-maintained and equipped setting.

Right Care

Staff were caring, kind and compassionate. They were trained, experienced and knew people well. A relative told us, “The staff are very much caring. Care is person-centred.” Care plans detailed how people wanted staff to support them including those areas they required no or minimum support with. Staff understood how it was important to empower people by promoting independence. Risk assessments were in place to ensure that people that possible risks were identified and managed so that people received right care. Staff understood how to protect people from abuse and neglect. The service worked with relatives and professionals and ensured that people received right care.

Right culture

Staff worked as a team and there was a good system of communication between staff. Relatives also confirmed that staff kept them up to date with information about people’s care.

There was a key working system in place. This ensured that people’s support needs were monitored and reviewed on a regularly basis. People and relatives were involved in assessments of needs and planning of their care. The service sought feedback from relatives and staff had meetings where they shared their knowledge and experience.

People were supported by staff who had undergone robust recruitment processes and received training. Staff were happy with the management and working at the service.

There was an open and transparent management culture. Staff and relatives told us the registered manager was approachable.

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.

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

We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture. This was a planned first inspection following registration with the Care Quality Commission (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, which will help inform when we next inspect.