Carleton House

Updated 3 December 2020

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 conducting a thematic review of infection control and prevention measures in care homes.

The service was selected to take part in this thematic review which is seeking to identify examples of good practice in infection prevention and control.

This inspection took place on 9 November 2020 and was announced.

Updated 3 December 2020

We carried out an unannounced inspection of Carleton House on 18 & 28 August 2018.

Carleton House is a 'care home', which is registered to provide care and accommodation for up to 12 adults with mental health needs. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing 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. Nursing care is not provided. At the time of our inspection, 12 people were using the service.

All bedrooms are for single occupancy and two have en-suite facilities. There is a shared lounge, a separate shared dining area and a large garden to the rear. The property is located in a quiet residential area in Preston.

The service was managed by a registered manager. 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 in the service was rated 'Good' overall. 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.

We found that the service was well-led. Appropriate leadership arrangements were in place to support the effective day to day running of the service. The service was a family run business, with the owners being registered nurses and one of them being the registered manager.

The service ensured that the people they supported were as safe as possible. People told us they felt safe at the service. Staff were aware of the signs and indicators of abuse and they knew what to do if they had any concerns. Staff had received training on supporting people safely and on abuse and protection matters. Processes were in place to make sure all appropriate recruitment checks were carried out before staff started working at the service.

There were enough staff available to provide care and support; we found staffing arrangements were flexible and kept under review. Systems were in place to support ongoing staff training and development.

Effective support was offered by the service so that people were able to manage their healthcare needs and to attend medical appointments. Changes in people's health and well-being were monitored and responded to. People were supported to maintain a healthy diet.

The service worked closely with external professionals to monitor and promote people’s heath and people’s medicines were managed safely. These external healthcare professionals reported that the home was very successful at stabilising people’s mental well-being. People were well supported by the service at the end of life stages.

People made positive comments about the care and support they received from staff. We observed positive and respectful interactions between people who used the service and staff.

People’s support needs and preferences were assessed before they started using the service. 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.

Each person had a care plan, describing their individual needs and choices. This provided guidance for staff on how to provide support. People had been involved with planning and reviewing their care.

People's privacy, individuality and dignity were respected. They were supported with their hobbies and interests, including activities in the local community and keeping in touch with their relatives and friends. People had opportunities for skills development and confidence building.

There were processes in place for dealing with complaints. There was a formal procedure to manage, investigate and respond to people's complaints and concerns.

The home was kept clean, well maintained and was a safe environment for people who used the service and others.

Staff spoke positively about the culture and values of the service and said they felt supported in their roles. The provider kept up to date with current good practice in the field of mental health and was knowledgeable on recent guidance from CQC. The registered manager carried out a number of quality assurance checks to monitor and improve standards at the service.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.