Eastleigh House

Updated 26 June 2021

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.

This was a targeted inspection to follow up on specific concerns which we had received about the service related to the safe care and treatment of people, specifically how the service safeguarded people from abuse, how risks were managed, how lessons were learnt when things go wrong, how care was delivered in line with the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and how the service works with other agencies to provide consistent, effective and timely care. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Eastleigh House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service did not have had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. The new manager had started the week of our inspection and would be registering to become the registered manager.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

Prior to the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service and notifications we had received. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

During the inspection

We spent time observing the interactions between people and staff. We spoke with six members of staff, which included the interim service manager, new manager and operations director. We reviewed certain risk assessments and care plans, which we then asked to be sent to us along with additional information.

After the inspection

After our visit we sought feedback from health and social care professionals and relatives to obtain their views of the service provided to people. We received feedback from three relatives. Unfortunately, we did not receive feedback from professionals.

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at various documents including risk assessments, care plans, training records, policies and procedures and specific audits relating to incidents and accidents to ensure people received safe care and support specific to their individual needs.

Updated 26 June 2021

About the service

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.

The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to ten people. Nine people were using the service. 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 and the other large domestic homes of a similar size.

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

Significant improvements had been made in all aspects of the management of the service since the last inspection. The provider and management team were working to ensure the improvements were embedded. This included the development of an open, transparent and positive culture, where staff felt valued and supported. There was a comprehensive quality assurance programme. Clear processes were now in place to ensure effective monitoring and accountability.

Environmental improvements had been made and were continuing. The laundry was now hygienic and promoted the prevention of infection. A comprehensive refurbishment of communal areas was underway.

We observed people were supported by sufficient numbers of suitably trained and competent staff. A retention plan was in place to address concerns around a high staff turnover and high rates of sickness. This ensured the right staff were recruited and they received the support they needed to carry out their role. Recruitment and retention were improving, and there was now a stable core team of staff who knew the people they supported well.

Staff had received training which gave them the knowledge, confidence and skills to support people safely and effectively. A visiting therapist commented on the difference this had made to the safety of the service, saying, “Now the staff seem fully engaged and the fear has completely gone. The service users seem a lot happier. I see them smiling and that speaks volumes.”

Staff were recruited safely, and safeguarding processes were in place to help protect people from abuse. Risks associated with people's care had been assessed and guidance was in place for staff to follow. Care plans were detailed, person centred and reviewed regularly with people and their relatives where appropriate. The format had been revised, and staff told us they were now much easier to read. There were systems in place to ensure information about any changes in people’s needs was shared promptly across the staff team.

People received their medicines safely, and in the way prescribed for them. The provider had good systems to manage safeguarding concerns, accidents, infection control and environmental safety.

The provider had introduced a ‘positive culture pledge’, which pledged to provide compassionate care with dignity, respect and kindness. All interactions we saw were in line with this pledge. Staff promoted people’s privacy and dignity, enabling them to make choices and have as much control and independence as possible. There had been a focus on supporting people to develop their communication, so they had a voice. This had a positive impact on the people using the service in terms of decreased levels of anxiety and distress, and more control over their lives.

People were supported to engage in a wide range of activities both within the home and the local community, which maximised their quality of life.

Staff worked effectively with external health and social care professionals to meet people’s healthcare and nutritional needs.

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 supported this practice.

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.

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 Requires Improvement (published 14 November 2018).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Eastleigh House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

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.