19 September 2019
During a routine inspection
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.