Huws

Updated 9 February 2021

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 is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 24 November 2020 and was announced.

Updated 9 February 2021

About the service

Huws is registered to provide accommodation and nursing care for people living with a learning disability, physical disability and or autistic spectrum disorder. Accommodation is provided in two separate buildings each of which have separate adapted facilities.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

Huws was registered for the support of up to 14 people. 13 people were using the service at the time of our inspection. This is larger than current best practice guidance. However. the size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by the building design fitting into the residential area and the other large domestic homes of a similar size. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

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

Some improvements were required to ensure people’s safety. New fire doors identified by the fire and rescue service in 2019 were still required. Staff recruitment checks in relation to criminal records were not further checked after staff started. The monitoring of infection control prevention required action. Whilst incidents were analysed for lessons learnt and shared with staff, improvements were required with the communication systems in place. Staffing levels were monitored by the registered manager and adjusted to meet people's needs.

People’s individual care and treatment needs were risk assessed and guidance for staff was detailed, supportive and up to date. Staff were aware of their responsibilities to protect people from abuse and avoidable harm. People received their prescribed medicines when they needed and best practice guidance in the management of medicines were followed.

People’s individual needs, routines and preferences had been assessed and planned for. 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. Staff received ongoing training and opportunities to discuss and review their responsibilities. People’s nutritional needs and preferences were known and met. Staff worked well with health care professionals in monitoring and managing people’s health conditions. The environment met people’s individual needs.

People received consistent care from staff who were kind and caring. Staff had developed positive relationships with people who knew them well. People were involved as fully as possible in their care and their relative or representative was also involved and consulted. Staff provided care that consistently respected people’s privacy, dignity and independence was promoted.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them. People were supported to be active citizens of their community and to participate in social activities and interests. The service had received no complaints in the last 12 months. Staff had received training in end of life care and consideration and plans were in place in relation to end of life care wishes.

The service was managed by an experienced registered manager who had made improvements at the service. Staff and relatives all spoke very positively and complimentary of the registered manager, about the improvements they had made and of their leadership style. Staff shared the provider’s vision and values. People were at the heart of the service and a culture of person centred, open and transparent care had been developed. An action plan was in place to further drive forward improvements. There were systems and processes that monitored quality and safety and there was oversight by the provider.

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 this service was Requires Improvement (published 28 March 2019).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.