Squirrels

Updated 5 February 2021

The inspection

This was a targeted inspection on specific risks we had identified including: systems and processes to safeguard people from abuse, use of ‘when required’ medicines, management culture at the service and processes to respond and learn from incidents.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was

conducted so we could understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection

outbreak, and to identify good practice we could share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was completed by one inspector.

Service and service type

Squirrels is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC ) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.

Notice of inspection

The inspection took place between 21 December 2020 and 8 January 2021. We carried out a site visit to the service on 21 December 2020. We gave the provider one-hour notice of our visit due to the anxieties people may experience when unexpected visitors entered their home.

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.

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This information helps

support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three members of staff including, the registered manager, the deputy regional operations director and care staff. We observed staff providing care and support in communal areas of the home. We reviewed a range of records. This included, relevant parts of three people’s care plans, incident reports, audits, medicines administration records, daily records of care and statutory notifications. We looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We spoke with four relatives by telephone about their experiences of the care provided. We spoke to eight staff members about their experiences of working at the home and culture of the service. We also spoke to one social worker.

Updated 5 February 2021

This inspection took place on 12 and 21 December 2017 and was unannounced. The Squirrels is a care home that provides accommodation for up to nine adults with learning disabilities. There were nine people living at the home when we visited. The home is based on two floors. The second floor was accessible via stairs. There were communal rooms and a garden which people could access. All rooms were single occupancy.

There was a registered manager at the home. 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’s relatives and staff told us the management team at the service was effective and approachable. The registered manager had worked in partnership with people, relatives, healthcare professionals and others to provide resources and develop structures to promote people’s health and wellbeing. The provider had systems in place to support the registered manager in their role and monitor the quality of the care people received.

There were sufficient staff available to meet people’s needs. People were supported by staff who were committed to providing personalised and flexible care. Staff understood the importance of people’s routines and preferences and were knowledgeable about guidance to help keep people safe. The service had policies in place to promote people’s equality and diversity.

Care plans were developed with people’s families and other health professionals and were regularly reviewed as people’s needs changed. The provider had made adaptations to the service to help ensure it was suitable to meet people’s needs.

Staff understood the need to gain consent from people before providing care and used a range of strategies to promote people’s choice, independence and communication. People were encouraged to participate in a range of activities, which were carefully planned in order to maximise people’s enjoyment and engagement.

Staff received training and ongoing support in their role which gave them the skills to provide effective support to people. Staff had received training in safeguarding and understood the steps required in order to keep people safe from harm. The provider also had systems in place where people, staff and relatives could report concerns. People’s relatives told us that the registered manager acted upon feedback to make positive changes where required.

The provider and registered manager completed a series of audits and checks to monitor the quality and safety of the service. These were effective in identifying areas which needed developing or changing. The registered manager used reflective practice when incidents occurred to help staff implement learning to improve their skills and knowledge. There were systems and processes in place to protect people from the risk of infections.

People were supported to access healthcare services and follow a diet in line with their preferences. There were systems in place manage people’s medicines and the staff were working with people, families and health professionals to ensure they were prescribed the appropriate level of medicines.