The Trio House

Updated 7 January 2020

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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

The Trio House 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.

The service is not required to have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. During our inspection visit, we met with the provider and the deputy manager who oversee the day-to-day management of the service. The provider is legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

The first day of our inspection visit was unannounced. We let the provider know when we would be returning for a second day to complete our inspection visit.

What we did before the inspection

Before the inspection visit, we reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included information about incidents the provider must notify us of, such as any allegations of abuse. We sought feedback on the service from the local authority.

During the inspection

We spoke with the provider, deputy manager, one senior care staff and three care staff. We spent time with people in the communal areas of the home and we saw how staff supported the people they cared for.

We reviewed a range of records. These included two people’s care records, medicines records and three staff recruitment records. We also reviewed incident and accident records, selected policies and records relating to the safety of the premises and management of the service.

After the inspection

We spoke with two relatives and four community health and social care professionals about their experiences of the care provided. We also reviewed additional information sent to us by the provider.

Updated 7 January 2020

About the service

The Trio House is a residential care home providing personal care for up to three people with learning disabilities. People’s care and accommodation is provided within one adapted building over two floors. At the time of our inspection, there were two people living at the home.

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.

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

Further improvements were needed in relation to the provider's quality assurance systems and processes to ensure people's individual needs and the risks to them were consistently identified and addressed. The provider needed to demonstrate improvements made in the service since our last inspection could be sustained over time.

People were supported by staff who understood how to identify and report potential abuse. Improvements had been made to the overall standard of fire safety within the home. The provider maintained appropriate staffing levels to ensure people’s needs could be met safely.

Systems and procedures were in place designed to ensure people received their medicines safely and as prescribed. The provider took steps to protect people, staff and visitors from the risk of infections. Accidents and incidents involving people were recorded and reported by staff and monitored by the management team to learn from these.

Staff received an initial induction, followed by ongoing support and training, to give them the knowledge and skills needed to care for people safely and effectively. People had the support they needed to maintain a balanced diet. Staff and management played a positive role in helping people to maintain their health and access professional medical treatment if they were unwell. 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.

Staff promoted positive, caring relationships with the people who lived at the home. People’s relatives were encouraged to express their views about the care provided. Staff treated people with dignity and respect at all times.

People’s care plans were individualised and supported a person-centred approach. Staff confirmed they read and followed these. People had support to participate in a range of social and recreational activities, both within and outside of the home. People’s relatives knew how to raise any concerns or complaints with the provider, and were confident these would be addressed. People’s wishes and choices regarding their end-of-life care were established, so these could be addressed at the appropriate time.

People’s relatives and staff commented on the open and inclusive culture within the service, and felt their views were welcomed by the provider. Staff felt well-supported by the provider and spoke about their work with enthusiasm. Staff and management sought to collaborate effectively with the community health and social care professionals involved in people’s care.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Requires improvement (report published 11 April 2019).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.