Wickett Hern Road

Updated 18 January 2020

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 Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Wickett Hern Road is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before inspection

Before the inspection, the provider sent us a provider information return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We reviewed information we had received about the service, such as details about incidents the provider must notify CQC about, for example incidents of abuse.

During the inspection-

We spoke with one person who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with three members of staff, including the registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

Updated 18 January 2020

About the service

Wickett Hern Road is a short break respite care service which provides a holiday style atmosphere for up to nine people who have a learning disability. Accommodation is in a purpose-built house with five bedrooms, communal areas and separate bathrooms. There were three people receiving support at the time of inspection. However, there was only one person who was available to speak to us at the time.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using the service

People we spoke with said they felt safe, as there were staff available to support them if needed. We found systems were in place to ensure they were protected from possible harm or abuse.

Staff knew people well. Staff treated people with respect and maintained their privacy, dignity and independence. People and their relatives were involved in decisions about their care.

People were involved in every day choices. We saw assessments had been completed with people. The registered manager was working on these at the time of inspection, as a lot of paperwork was in the process of being transferred to an electronic Format.

Risk assessments had been completed and were regularly reviewed where appropriate. There were procedures and systems in place to manage incidents and accidents effectively. However, there had only been one incident since the last inspection. The registered manager told us these would be analysed for lessons learnt if more than one had occurred.

No one at the time of inspection was receiving medication. However, the service had the procedures and policies in place to support medicine management if this was required. Staff had received competency assessments and medicine training to ensure safe medicines management.

Staff had the right skills and experience to meet the needs of people who used the service. Staff had completed thorough training, supervisions and an appraisal.

Health needs were regularly monitored, and staff accessed advice from health care professionals when required. However, family told us any appointments was mostly supported by themselves.

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.

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 to gain new skills and become more independent.

People told us they knew how to complain and would If they needed to. There were policies and procedures in place to manage any complaints effectively. The service had not received any formal complaints since our last inspection.

The provider used internal audit systems to monitor the quality and safety of the care provided. People were asked for their views and how to improve the service.

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 was good (published June 2017)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection.

Follow up

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