Priory Highfields

Updated 11 November 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

Priory Highfields 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. Priory Highfields is a care home without 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 inspection

We reviewed information we had about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority. We asked Healthwatch for their feedback, although they had not received any feedback about the service to share with us. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. 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 made observations in communal areas to see people’s experience of their care, as they were not always able to talk with us. We spoke with 8 relatives over the phone to get their feedback about the care and support their loved ones received. We spoke with 8 staff, including support workers, senior support workers and the Positive Behaviour Support practitioner plus the registered manager and deputy manager. We also spoke with 5 health and social care professionals who worked with people using the service.

We reviewed a range of records. This is included 3 people’s care plans and various medicines and medicines records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and a sample of agency staff profiles. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 11 November 2023

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Priory Highfields is a residential care home made up of 2 separate domestic-style houses providing personal care to 7 people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 8 people. The service was for younger people with a learning disability and/or autism.

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

Right Support:

Risks were not always assessed and planned for. However, staff knew people well and had not come to harm. Medicines were generally safely managed, but some improvements were needed. Staff were recruited safely. People were protected from the risk of abuse by staff. Where abuse had been identified action was taken by the provider to safeguard people. People were protected from the risk of infection. People had access to health professionals as needed. People were supported with food and drinks of their choice. The home environment was in line with people’s preferences and it’s safety was checked and maintained.

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.

Right Care:

People were supported by a caring staff team who treated them with respect. People were encouraged to be independent, where possible. People were enabled to partake in a range of hobbies and activities.

Right Culture:

Quality assurance systems to monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service were not always effective. The service worked in partnership with external professionals and organisations. The registered manager and staff team were person-centred and wanted the best outcomes for people. Relatives felt able to raise concerns, if needed, although felt proactive communication could be improved. Staff felt supported and felt able to go to the registered manager.

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 November 2021, and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about possible poor staff culture. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see all of the key question sections of this full report.

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 work with the local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.