Addington Heights

Updated 19 April 2018

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.

This inspection took place on 20 February 2018. It was undertaken by one inspector, one nursing specialist advisor and one expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Prior to the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service including notifications we had received. Notifications are information about important events the provider is required to tell us about by law. We asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to share with us some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used this information to plan the inspection.

During the inspection we spoke with 17 people, five relatives, six staff, the deputy manager, registered manager and regional manager. We also met with two work experience students from a local college. We read 10 people’s care records including their needs assessments, support plans, risk assessments and medicines administration records. We reviewed the recruitment records of 6 staff. We also read the records of 17 staff supervision meetings and six staff appraisals. We reviewed the provider’s quality assurance audits as well as their health and safety, fire safety, food safety and infection control practices. We also carried out general observations. Following the inspection we contacted six health and social care professionals for their views regarding the service.

Updated 19 April 2018

This unannounced inspection took place on 20 February 2018 .

At our last inspection in January 2017 we found that the provider was in breach of Regulation 18 of Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009 because the registered manager had not notified CQC in a timely manner where Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) were in place. At this inspection we found that the registered manager had promptly forwarded notifications to CQC when DoLS were authorised by the Local Authority to keep people safe.

Addington Heights 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 accommodates up to 50 people in one adapted building which is separated into

five units that can accommodate up to a maximum of ten people. These units are self-contained and each have their own lounge and dining areas. 46 people were living at the service at the time of our inspection.

The service had a registered manager in post. 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.

People were safe living in Addington Heights. Staff assessed and reduced risks to people and were trained to protect people from abuse. The provider used robust recruiting practices to ensure people were supported by safe and suitable staff. People received their medicines safely and the care home was clean and hygienic. Staff regularly rehearsed their planned response to an emergency at the service which included fully evacuating the building. The registered manager deployed staff in sufficient numbers to ensure people received their care safely and as planned.

Trained and supervised staff assessed people’s needs. People were served nutritious food and received the support they required to eat safely. Staff supported people to access healthcare services whenever they needed to and ensured people received care in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005. The environment of the service supported people’s mobility needs.

People received their care and support from kind and caring staff. Relatives were made to feel welcome and they observed warm relationships between people receiving care and the staff who provided it. People’s spiritual and cultural needs were met and they were supported to make decisions. Staff maintained people’s privacy and promoted their dignity.

People’s care was personalised and staff maintained up to date and accurate electronic care records. People’s changing needs were identified and met. People were supported to participate in a range of activities and quiet areas offered privacy and calming views. People were supported with compassion during their end of life care.

The registered manager oversaw detailed quality assurance checks and used the findings from these to address shortfalls. The service had an open atmosphere and the views of people, their relatives and staff were sought to shape care delivery. The service developed links in the community and worked closely with other organisations in people’s best interests.