Onny Cottage

Updated 2 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

Onny Cottage 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. Onny Cottage is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority, professionals who work with the service 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. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. 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 used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 5 people who lived at the home and 1 relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the provider and 2 care staff. We looked at 2 care plans and multiple medication administration records. We looked at 2 staff recruitment files, staff training records and records relating to health and safety and the management of the home.

Updated 2 June 2023

About the service

Onny Cottage is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 7 people. The service provides support to older people who have a physical and/or sensory impairment. At the time of our inspection there were 5 people using the service. Accommodation is provided in 1 adapted building.

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

People felt safe living at the home and with the staff who supported them. People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff who knew them well and who had been trained to recognise and report any signs of abuse. The provider’s procedures for staff recruitment had improved so people were protected from harm. People received their medicines when they needed them from staff who were trained and competent to carry out the role. Risks to people were assessed and there were care plans in place to manage and mitigate risks. There were regular checks on the environment and equipment used by people to ensure they remained safe. The provider followed appropriate infection, prevention and control procedures. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. Staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the provider's policies and procedures supported this practice.

Systems to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided had improved. Staff morale was good and staff told us they felt well supported. Staff received the supervision and support needed to carry out their role effectively. The views of people were sought and valued. The provider worked in partnership with other professionals to ensure good outcomes for people. The provider was aware of their legal requirement and of their responsibility to be open an honest when things go wrong.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 17 November 2021) and there were breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part by notification of an incident following which a person using the service sustained a serious injury. This incident is subject to further investigation by CQC as to whether any regulatory action should be taken. As a result, this inspection did not examine the circumstances of the incident. However, the information shared with CQC about the incident indicated potential concerns about the management of risk of falls from height. This inspection examined those risks.

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 20 October 2021 where breaches of legal requirements were found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve safe care and treatment and good governance.

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions safe and well-led which contain those requirements. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good based on the findings of this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Onny Cottage on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.