Background to this inspection
Updated
26 September 2020
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.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted as part of our Thematic Review of infection control and prevention in care homes.
Inspection team
The site inspection was carried out by one inspector. A second inspector made telephone calls to relatives and staff.
Service and service type
Heathcotes (Park View) is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal 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.
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
This inspection was announced shortly before it took place. This was to obtain information around Covid 19 within the service before entering the premises.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since its last inspection. We sought feedback from a local authority and a professional who works with the service. We used all this information to plan our 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 used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with one person who used the service. We spoke with the manager. After the inspection we spoke by telephone with two relatives of people using the service and three care staff about their experience of the care being provided.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people's care records and records. We looked two staff recruitment and staff supervision records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were also reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the manager to validate the evidence found. We looked at training records, the business continuity plan and spot checks the manager sent to us following our site visit.
Updated
26 September 2020
About the service
Heathcotes (Park View) is a residential care home providing personal care for up to five people in one building. It specialises in supporting people who have learning disabilities and or autism. At the time of our inspection, there were three people living at the home.
The home has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who live in the home can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes.
The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People living in the home receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
People received safe care and felt safe in the service. Staff we spoke with understood safeguarding procedures and felt confident their concerns would be listened to and followed up.
Relatives we spoke with told us they felt their family members were safely supported. Risk assessments were in place to manage risks in people's lives.
Infection control measures had been increased since Covid-19 and the CQC had signposted the manager towards updated guidance for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Care Homes for their staff.
Staff recruitment procedures ensured appropriate pre-employment checks were carried out. Staffing levels were sufficient and consistent within the home, and people got prompt support they needed from staff.
Medicines were stored and administered safely, and staff were trained to support people effectively. Staff were supervised well and felt confident in their roles and supported by the management team.
Audits of the service were clear and any issues found were addressed promptly. Staff were motivated to provide good care to people, despite Covid 19 having a big effect on everyone.
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 supported this practice.
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 requires improvement (published 11 May 2019).
Why we inspected
We undertook this focused inspection as this service was identified at risk of being a closed culture. A closed culture is a poor culture in a health or care service that increases the risk of harm. This includes abuse and human rights breaches. The development of closed cultures can be deliberate or unintentional – either way it can cause unacceptable harm to a person and their loved ones. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe and Well-led, which contain those requirements.
The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the Safe and Well-led sections of the report.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Heathcotes (Park View) on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.