Penrith Drive

Updated 25 August 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

This inspection was carried out by 1 inspector.

Service and service type

Penrith Drive 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. Penrith Drive 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 the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority who work with the service. 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 met 5 people who used the service. We spoke with 1 person and communicated with others using gestures and facial expressions, and spoke with a relative. We observed the interactions between staff and people. We spoke with 8 staff. They included the registered manager, care staff, relief staff and the provider representative. We checked the environment of the home. We reviewed a range of records. This included 4 people’s care records, medicines records and 2 staff files in relation to recruitment and training, and viewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service, staff training information, audits, meeting records policies and procedures.

After the inspection site visit we continued to review information, and we spoke with 3 relatives.

Updated 25 August 2023

About the service

Penrith Drive is a residential care home providing personal care and accommodation for up to 6 people with learning disabilities. At the time of our inspection there were 5 people using the service.

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

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.

Right Support

People’s medicines were not always stored, managed and administered safely. Risks associated with people’s physical health was not always monitored. Environmental risks including risks of spreading infectious diseases were not always identified or managed. The registered manager took some immediate action, but further action was required.

People lived in a clean and well-furnished environment. People’s bedrooms were decorated, personalised and met their sensory needs. People were supported by staff who were familiar with their needs. Staff supported people to take part in activities and pursue their interests in their local area. Staff enabled people to access specialist health and social care support in the community.

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

Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it. The service worked well with other agencies to do so. People had enough to eat and drink and individual dietary needs were met. People received kind and compassionate care. Staff understood and responded to people’s individual needs, and respected their privacy and dignity. Where appropriate, staff encouraged and enabled people to take positive risks. People who had individual ways of communicating, using body language, sounds, Makaton (a form of sign language) and pictures could interact comfortably with staff who understood them.

Right Culture

The provider’s oversight monitoring systems and processes were not used effectively to identity and mitigate risks to people.

The service had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. Staff knew and understood people well and were responsive, supporting their aspirations to live a quality life of their choosing. People were supported by staff who understood best practice in relation supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people. This meant people received compassionate and empowering care that was tailored to their needs. People’s quality of life was enhanced by the service’s culture of inclusivity. People and relatives were confident complaints were taken seriously. People and where appropriate their relatives views were sought through individual discussions and surveys.

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 good (published 27 November 2017). At this inspection we found breaches of regulation in relation to medicines management, risks to people including the environment and infection prevention and control and governance.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection and in part 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.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

The overall rating for the service has changed from good to requires improvement based on the findings of this inspection. Some action was taken by the registered manager when concerns were raised, but further action was needed to mitigate risks to people’s safety.

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

Enforcement

We have identified breaches in relation to medicines management, people’s physical health and mobility, the environment, infection prevention and control and governance.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.