Background to this inspection
Updated
16 June 2017
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
This was an unannounced inspection that took place on the 9 May 2017. The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.
Prior to this inspection we reviewed all the information we held about the service, including data about safeguarding and statutory notifications. Statutory notifications are information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.
We asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the PIR before the inspection to check if there were any specific areas we needed to focus on.
During the inspection we were unable to speak to anyone in detail as they were unable to communicate verbally with us due to their medical conditions. Instead we observed the care and support being provided by staff. We obtained feedback from three relative’s following the inspection.
As part of the inspection we spoke with the registered manager and three members of staff. We looked at a range of records about people’s care and how the home was managed. We looked at three care plans, medication administration records, risk assessments, accident and incident records, complaints records and internal and external audits that had been completed.
We last inspected Courthill House in January 2016 where we identified some concerns.
Updated
16 June 2017
Courthill House provides accommodation and personal care for up to ten people who have a learning disability, such as autism or epilepsy. People's accommodation is arranged over two floors with easy access via a lift. There were eight people living at Courthill House on the day of our inspection.
There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The registered manager helped us during our inspection.
We last inspected Courthill House in January 2016 when we identified concerns in relation to deployment of staff, risk assessments, nutrition, person-centred care, records and staff not always treating people in a respectful way. We found at this inspection things had improved and although we highlighted some minor things to the registered manager she dealt with these immediately, so we were satisfied that we had no similar concerns.
People lived in a homely environment. People’s rooms were cosy and personalised. People were encouraged to be independent and supported to do things for themselves. Staff supported people to eat a good range of foods. Those with a specific dietary requirement were provided with appropriate food. People had access to external health services and professional involvement was sought by staff when appropriate to help maintain good health.
People were encouraged to take part in activities which were meaningful to them. People were given choice on what they wished to do during the day, not only within the home but if they wished to go out. People’s care records were detailed and included sufficient information for staff to know how to care for someone.
Medicines were managed in a safe way and recording of medicines demonstrated people had received the medicines they required. Risks to people had been identified and guidance was in place to help reduce the risk of harm to individuals. Accidents and incidents were recorded and action taken to help prevent reoccurrence. Appropriate checks were carried out to help ensure only suitable staff worked in the home.
Staff met with their line manager on a one to one basis and staff said they felt supported. We found the registered manager had good management oversight of the home and there was a good culture within the team.
There were a sufficient number of staff on duty to enable people to either stay indoors or go out to their individual activities. It was evident staff knew people well, understood people’s individuality and needs and respected people when they wished to have time alone. Staff were caring to people.
Staff had followed legal requirements to make sure that any decisions made or restrictions to people were done in the person’s best interests. Staff understood the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
Staff received a good range of training which included training specific to the needs of people living at Courthill House. Staff met together regularly as a team to discuss all aspects of the home and they were aware of their responsibilities to safeguard people from abuse.
Staff and the provider undertook quality assurance audits to ensure the care provided was of a standard people should expect. Any areas identified as needing improvement were actioned.
Regular fire checks and fire drills were carried out to help ensure staff would know what to do in the event of an emergency. The registered manager had increased night staff to cover this possibility and if necessary people would be moved to another of the provider’s homes if Courthill House had to be closed.
A complaints procedure was available for any concerns. This was displayed in a format that was easy for people to understand. People, their relatives were encouraged to be involved in the running of the home.