Background to this inspection
Updated
3 October 2019
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 conducted by one inspector. After the inspection one assistant inspector contacted staff by telephone.
Service and service type
Spion Kop 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.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
Our planning considered information we held about the service including statutory notifications and other information shared by the provider. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with six people who used the service about their experience of the support provided. We spoke with two members of staff including the registered manager and a support worker.
We reviewed a range of records. These included, two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment, training and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and we spoke with one member of staff.
Updated
3 October 2019
About the service
Spion Kop is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to a maximum of six people who have mental health needs. Six people lived at Spion Kop at the time of the inspection. Accommodation was provided in one adapted building. Three bedrooms were ensuite, shared communal facilities included the lounge, dining room, kitchen and bathroom.
There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People received safe care and treatment. There were effective systems in place to assess, monitor and record risk associated with people’s individual needs and staff encouraged people to lead independent lives. The environment was safe, clean and well maintained. Medicines were managed in a safe and person-centred way. Staff demonstrated good understanding of safeguarding people from abuse and avoidable harm.
People had access to a wide range of health care professionals. 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 consistently support this practice however, during the inspection the registered manager evidenced how they intended to improve the way people’s mental capacity was assessed.
Staff understood the importance of mental health recovery and people were supported to develop life skills including shopping, cooking and housework. Staff received training and support. People’s end of life preferences and decisions were discussed and recorded.
People told us staff were kind and respectful. Staff engaged with people in a caring way and had built trusting relationships. People were encouraged to be involved in decisions about the way the service was led. Monthly house meetings were held and minuted.
People were involved in the development of their care plans. Staff told us they were trained and supported to understand the importance of mental health recovery and knew how to encourage people to access the local community, engage in work projects and education.
Staff told us the registered manager was supportive and approachable. There was an open and transparent culture. The registered manager understood people’s needs and preferences. There were effective quality assurance processes which showed the manager was aware of their role and responsibilities. People had access to the complaints procedure and told us they felt confident to raise any concerns.
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 24/01/2017).
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.