St Oggs

Updated 19 November 2019

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

One inspector carried out this inspection.

Service and service type

St Oggs 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.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from Lincolnshire local authority and Healthwatch. 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 all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with eight people who used the service about their experience of care provided. We also spoke with a regional director, registered manager, four support staff and a cook.

We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records. We also looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment, induction and supervision. We reviewed the training matrix for all staff as well as records relating to the management of the service.

After the inspection

We contacted the nominated individual to seek additional information and sought clarification to validate evidence found during inspection. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

Updated 19 November 2019

About the service

St Oggs is a care home for up to 21 people living with a mental health condition and/or a learning disability. At the time of inspection 17 people were using the service.

The service included one large adapted building and a bungalow which could accommodate two people within the same grounds.

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.

This was a large home, with several communal areas for people. The size of the service allowed people to move freely and have the space they needed. The only indication the service was a care home were the industrial bins to the side of the building. Although staff wore clothing and identification badges to indicate they worked at the service, these were covered or removed when supporting people in the community

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

Staff managed the risks to people, however records to support the management of risk needed to be improved. There were sufficient staff on duty at all times. The environment was clean, however aspects of it needed to be decluttered. Improvements had been made to the management of medicines. Records to support the use of when required medicines and medicines for behaviour needed to be more detailed.

Staff had not received regular supervision and they had not completed all of the training required. We have made a recommendation about this. People were supported with their health and well-being needs, however records to support with these were not up to date. The provider had an improvement plan in place to address the updates needed to the environment.

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 did not support this practice because they led staff to carry out mental capacity assessments despite people having capacity.

Some quality assurances measures had led to support being put in place to make improvements, such as with medicines and training. However, quality assurance measures to support the quality of record keeping needed to be improved. Staff at all levels were visible and were open and transparent. Staff worked well with professionals to ensure the needs of people were met.

People received individualised care and support from staff. However, detailed records were not in place to support staff. They did not review people's independence or strengths. Records relating to end of life care had not been completed. People were supported with their social interests. People knew how to raise a concern if they needed to.

Staff treated people with kindness and compassion. People said they received good care and staff knew them well. Staff were responsive when people were distressed. People were involved in their care and staff supported them to understand information given to them.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. As a result, people were able to live fulfilled lives and achieve good outcomes in all aspects of their lives.

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 good (published 22 November 2016).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches in relation to good governance at this inspection. This included the quality of record keeping and quality assurance measures.

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

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.