Amber House

Updated 30 March 2019

The inspection: We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team: The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

The service had a manager registered with (CQC). 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.

Service and service type: The service is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at on this inspection.

Notice of inspection: The inspection was unannounced.

What we did: We looked at information sent to us since the last inspection such as notifications about accidents and safeguarding alerts. Providers are required to send us key information about their service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

We contacted the local authority commissioning and safeguarding teams and the local Healthwatch England. Healthwatch England are an independent organisation who listen to people’s views about local services and drive improvement by sharing those views with organisations who commission, deliver and regulate health and care services. We also sought feedback from professionals who worked with the service. This information helps support our inspections.

We spoke with one person who used the service, four members of staff including; the registered manager the care leader and two team leaders. Following the inspection, we spoke with a health and social care professional and a relative.

We reviewed a range of documents. This included two people’s care and medicine records. We looked at four staff recruitment and supervision records. Documents relating to the management of the service and policies and procedures developed and implemented by the provider.

Updated 30 March 2019

About the service: Amber House is a care home providing personal care and accommodation for up to five people, some of who may be living with learning disabilities and mental health needs. At the time of the inspection 2 people were living at the service.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

People’s experience of using this service:The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support in the following ways; People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent

The provider had systems in place to safeguard people from abuse. Staff could recognise and report any safeguarding concerns if they suspected abuse. Relevant risk assessments had been completed. Medicines were managed safely. Accidents and incidents were monitored to identify and address any patterns or trends to mitigate risks.

Staff had appropriate skills and knowledge to deliver care and support people in a person-centred way. Staff recruitment was safe and staff understood how to keep people safe.

People told us they were happy with the service they received and felt staff had a clear understanding of their needs and preferences. People were supported with good nutrition and could access appropriate healthcare services.

People were able to see their families as they wanted. There were no restrictions on when people could visit the service. People were supplied with the information they needed at the right time, were involved in all aspects of their care and were always asked for their consent before staff undertook support tasks.

Staff cared about the well-being of people they supported and we received positive feedback about the kindness of staff. People were treated with respect and dignity and their independence was encouraged and supported. Where people required support at the end of their lives, this was carried out with compassion and dignity.

People described a range of activities and events both within the service and the local community, based on their interests and preferences. People and their relatives were supported to receive information in an accessible way either through easy read, large print and pictorial formats to enable them to be involved in their care and support.

Care plans had been developed and were regularly reviewed. These contained relevant information about how to meet people's needs. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; policies and systems supported this practice.

All areas were clean, tidy and there was effective cleaning taking place to keep people safe from the risk of infection. The rooms we looked at were personalised and decorated in colours of people's choosing The environment supported people to have time on their own and time with other people if they chose this. Cleanliness and health and safety were well managed.

The registered manager and staff team worked together in a positive way to support people to remain as independent as possible and to be safe. Staff told us they were well supported by the registered manager and management team.

Checks of safety and quality were made to ensure people were protected. Work to continuously improve was noted and the registered manager was keen to make changes that would impact positively on people's lives.

Rating at the last inspection: At the last inspection the service was rated good (published 21 April 2017).

Why we inspected: This was a scheduled inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk.