Background to this inspection
Updated
28 January 2022
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 COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.
This inspection took place on 20 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection.
Updated
28 January 2022
About the service
The Pines is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to up to six people living with profound learning disabilities and complex physical health needs. The home is a purpose-built bungalow. At the time of the inspection six people lived in the home.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The service 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 use the service 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 using the service received person-centred support that was appropriate and inclusive for them.
People were provided with safe care and support in a well maintained homely environment. There was enough appropriately recruited and trained staff. Staff were aware of individual people’s needs and risks, and encouraged people to be as independent as possible.
Medicine recording practices were safe, and staff administered people’s medicines in a person centred manner. People were supported to eat healthily. Staff referred people to and worked collaboratively with health care professionals where required to ensure people received appropriate care.
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.
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.
Staff were caring, kind and respectful to people and their families. People were treated with dignity. Staff knew how to recognise individual signs of happiness and distress and how to reassure people when needed. Care plans detailed the best ways to meet people’s communication needs including what aids they used.
People were supported and encouraged to participate in social activities in the home and in the wider community. Staff asked people for their choices and involved them in their care. People had access to adaptive technology and were supported to do what they liked.
Visitors to the service told us The Pines was “a welcoming and caring home where both residents and staff appear cheerful and relaxed.” Staff confirmed they felt well supported by their manager. The registered manager used effective systems of quality assurance and governance and was supported by the provider to drive changes which improved people’s experience of care.
People were offered the opportunity to provide feedback and felt listened to.
The Secretary of State has asked the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct a thematic review and to make recommendations about the use of restrictive interventions in settings that provide care for people with or who might have mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or autism. Thematic reviews look in-depth at specific issues concerning quality of care across the health and social care sectors. They expand our understanding of both good and poor practice and of the potential drivers of improvement.
As part of thematic review, we carried out a survey with the registered manager at this inspection. This considered whether the service used any restrictive intervention practices (restraint, seclusion and segregation) when supporting people.
The service used positive behaviour support principles to support people in the least restrictive way. No restrictive intervention practices were used.
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 Good (published 28 March 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.