Thorpe House Specialist Adult Mental Health Unit Limited

Updated 24 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.

Inspection team

The inspection was completed by 2 inspectors and an Expert by Experience. 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

Thorpe House Specialist Adult Mental Health Unit Limited 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. Thorpe House Specialist Adult Mental Health Unit Limited is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

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. 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. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 4 people who used the service and 8 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We spoke with 6 members of staff in various roles. We reviewed 4 people's care records and other records relating to people's care and support. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed, including policies and procedures.

Updated 24 June 2023

About the service

Thorpe House Specialist Adult Mental Health Unit Limited is a specialist mental health service which offers long term and short-term placements in a residential setting. The service is registered to provide care to up to 26 people. At the time of the inspection, there was 22 people using the service.

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

People and relatives told us they felt safe. Medicines were managed safely. Relatives spoke positively about the staff.

The provider had assessed and appropriately managed risks to people's health and wellbeing. People's needs were assessed prior to moving into Thorpe House. Staff had access to information regarding people's needs. There was effective working with other agencies. People were encouraged to make decisions and share views about their care.

Recruitment checks had been completed and staff received appropriate training when they started their role. People and relatives told us staff were caring and treated people with respect. We observed staff engaging with people during the inspection, in a caring and friendly manner.

The service provided people with communal areas and a safe garden which was frequently used. There was an occupational therapy assistant employed by the home and there were a range of activities available to people.

A variety of audits, daily walkarounds and spot checks were in place. There were processes in place to record accidents, incidents and complaints. People felt able to raise concerns with staff and the registered manager should they need to.

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

The last rating for the service at the previous premises was good, published on 20 June 2019.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.