Highbray Residential Care Home

Updated 8 April 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 1 March 2021 and was announced.

Updated 8 April 2021

Highbray Residential Care Home is a residential home registered to provide accommodation and personal care support to three people with learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorder or mental health needs. They were in the process of expanding the service user group to include people living with dementia. At the time of the inspection there were three people living at the home. The home was managed and staffed by the provider’s immediate family.

The registered manager lived on site, and was the main member of care staff. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

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Why the service is rated Good.

People remained safe at the home. There were trained and experienced staff available over a 24 hour period to meet people’s needs and to spend time socialising with them. Risk assessments were carried out with people which promoted their independence while minimising risks. People received their medicines safely.

People continued to receive effective care because staff had the skills and knowledge required to effectively support them. Their communication needs were recognised and met. People lived in a service which had been adapted to meet their needs. Their healthcare needs were monitored by the staff and they had access to healthcare professionals according to their individual needs. 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.

The home continued to provide a caring service to people. One person said, "The whole thing has a real warmth about it. Its very comforting. Very relaxing.” Staff promoted people’s independence and treated them with dignity and respect. They were familiar with people’s history and backgrounds, respected their choices and acted in accordance with their wishes. People were accepted for who they were regardless of their sexuality, faith or culture. The service was able to provide effective support to people at the end of their lives.

The service remained responsive to people’s individual needs. Care plans were person centred and provided detailed information about people’s needs and preferences. As the main carer the registered manager had current and detailed knowledge of people’s needs. People could choose to participate in a range of activities, both in the home and out in the community. There was a complaints policy in place, and concerns or complaints were managed effectively in line with the policy. There had been no formal complaints since the last inspection.

The service was well led, although improvements were needed to quality assurance processes to simplify them and ensure their relevance to the service. The provider and registered manager had a strong value base, and worked to promote a person centred, open and empowering culture. They had an ethos of honesty and transparency, reflecting the requirements of the duty of candour. The duty of candour is a legal obligation to act in an open and transparent way in relation to care and treatment.

Further information is in the detailed findings below