Archived: High Barn

A registered manager was in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The manager had been in post since September 2016.

The service used the local authority safeguarding procedures to report any safeguarding concerns. Staff had been trained in safeguarding topics and were aware of their responsibilities to report any possible abuse.

Recruitment procedures were robust and ensured new staff should be safe to work with vulnerable adults.

The administration of medicines was safe. Staff had been trained in the administration of medicines and had up to date policies and procedures to follow.

The home was clean, tidy and homely in character. The environment was maintained at a good level and homely in character.

Electrical and gas appliances were serviced regularly. Each person had a personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP) and there was a business plan for any unforeseen emergencies.

There were systems in place to prevent the spread of infection. Staff were trained in infection control and provided with the necessary equipment and hand washing facilities. This helped to protect the health and welfare of staff and people who used the service.

People were given choices in the food they ate and told us it was good. People were encouraged to eat and drink to ensure they were hydrated and well fed.

Most staff had been trained in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The registered manager was aware of her responsibilities of how to apply for any best interest decisions under the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and followed the correct procedures using independent professionals.

New staff received induction training to provide them with the skills to care for people. Staff files and the training matrix showed staff had undertaken sufficient training to meet the needs of people and they were supervised regularly to check their competence. Supervision sessions also gave staff the opportunity to discuss their work and ask for any training they felt necessary.

We observed there were good interactions between staff and people who used the service. People told us staff were kind and caring.

We saw from our observations of staff and records that people who used the service were given choices in many aspects of their lives and helped to remain independent where possible.

We saw that the quality of care plans gave staff sufficient information to look after people accommodated at the care home and they were regularly reviewed. Plans of care contained people’s personal preferences so they could be treated as individuals.

We saw that people were able to attend activities of their choice and able to visit family members with staff support.

Audits, surveys and key worker sessions helped the service maintain and improve their standards of support.

People thought the registered manager was approachable and supportive.

We received an action plan with details of how the provider was going to meet the areas of non-compliance. During this inspection we found that the provider had met the areas of non-compliance from the previous inspection in May 2013.

Due to the complex needs of people living at High Barn it was difficult for everyone to express their opinions on the service they received. Although the people found it difficult to fully express what they were trying to say, they looked happy and comfortable in their surroundings.

We spoke with one person who told us they enjoyed living at High Barn and liked the way their room was decorated. They told us they went out regularly and enjoyed going out to eat on occasions. The person we spoke with was complimentary about the staff and seemed to have a good relationship with them.

People's care records contained detailed information to show how people were to be supported and cared for and how their dignity and privacy were to be respected.