Cambridgeshire County Council - 40/44 Russell Street Cambridge

Updated 19 March 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 the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 24 February 2021 and was announced. The inspection was announced prior to us entering the home, so we could ensure that measures were in place to support an inspection and manage any infection control risks.

Updated 19 March 2021

About the service:

Cambridgeshire County Council – 40/44 Russell Street Cambridge provides short-stay and long-term accommodation and personal care for up to nine people who have learning disabilities.

The service is divided into three areas: a four bedroomed house for people who live at the service, a four bedroomed house for people who have short stays at the service, and a flat for one person who can live semi-independently.

At the time of our inspection there were three people living at the service.

The service was a large home, incorporating three domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to nine people. 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. 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:

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 received exceptionally and highly personalised care that was responsive to them and respected their individuality. We received very positive feedback about the service. Without exception, healthcare professionals told us that staff were extremely responsive to people needs and preferences and that staff provided very person-centred care.

Staff recognised people’s diverse needs and their rights and choices. People made their own decisions and staff listened to them. People were involved as they wanted to be in the local community. People celebrated events and staff actively encouraged them with their hobbies, interests and personal goals. People and their relatives were involved in their, or their family member's, care reviews. People’s needs were constantly reviewed, and support adapted as required.

People were protected from avoidable harm by a staff team trained and confident to recognise and report any concerns. Staff assessed and minimised any potential risks to people. There were effective processes in place to reduce the spread of infection. Staff managed people’s medicines safely.

The provider continued to have a system in place to ensure that they only employed staff whose suitability to work at the service had been verified. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs safely. Staff worked well together to ensure people were safe and well cared for.

The management team ensured that staff delivered up to date care in line with good practice and current guidance. People received care from staff who were competent, trained and well supported to meet people’s assessed needs. Staff supported people to have enough to eat and drink and to access external healthcare services when needed. Staff worked well with external professionals to help improve and maintain people’s physical and emotional wellbeing.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People were involved in making decisions about their care and support. Where people needed additional support to make decisions, staff referred people to external advocates.

Staff knew people extremely well and displayed genuine fondness for them. They supported people in a caring, respectful and person-centred way. Staff supported people to develop their independence. Privacy and dignity were embedded into the team’s practice and people were treated with the utmost respect. People were supported and encouraged to express their views and to be involved in decisions about their care. They were involved in care planning and reviews.

Staff worked in partnership with a wide range of professionals to ensure that people received joined up care. The service played an active role in the community and had links with other resources and organisations to support people’s preferences and meet their needs.

Staff member's commitment and enthusiasm for providing a high-quality service was evident throughout our inspection and by the feedback we received. The registered manager was committed to ensuring staff provided a high-quality service and sought information from people using the service, their relatives, and staff, on a regular basis. Staff worked well together and demonstrated the values and vision of the service. People and their relatives felt able to raise concerns. The provider had systems in place, including a procedure, to deal with any concerns or complaints. The registered manager and staff were committed to learning and to improve outcomes for people using 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: Good (report published 04 November 2016).

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.