Browns Short Break Respite Limited

Updated 4 February 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.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

The service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flat.

This service provides care and support to five people living in three ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

Browns Short Break Respite is a care home offering short breaks for up to four people at one time. 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

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority who work with the service. We used all of 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.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people and three family members of people who used the domiciliary service. We spoke to one person and visited two people who were receiving supported living support, and a family member. We spoke with three people and a family member who accessed the short breaks service. We spoke with seven members of staff including the provider, registered manager and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and medication records. We looked at staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data records relating to the overall management of the service.

Updated 4 February 2020

About the service

Browns Short Breaks Respite Ltd is a service that provides domiciliary care and a supported living. In addition, the service provides short term residential care and support for up to four people. All of these services are provided from the same address.

The service supports people living in their own tenancy with up to 24hr support. Staff support up to two people living in their homes at one time. Some people receive support through the night by a member of staff who sleeps on the premises in an allocated bedroom. In addition, people received domiciliary care and support within their homes, community and whilst away from home.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.

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 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

We have made a recommendation about establishing people’s best interest decisions. Although 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; systems in the service did not fully support this practice. The registered manager took immediate action to seek further guidance in this area.

We have made a recommendation about the current system in place for reviewing the quality and safety of the service. Although checks were taking place, the monitoring system did not demonstrate when areas of improvement that had been identified would be addressed.

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 did not support this practice.

People felt safe using the service and were protected from abuse and the risk of abuse. Procedures were in place for the safe management of medicines and people received them on time. Safe recruitment practices were followed. Infection control practices were followed to minimise the risk of the spread of infection and regular safety checks were carried out on the environment and equipment.

Systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service that people received. People's needs and choices were assessed prior to moving into the service. People received care and support from experienced staff who received training and supported for their role. People were supported to have a nutritious and balanced diet and their healthcare needs were met.

People and their family members and felt the service met their needs and positive relationships had been formed with the staff delivering care and support.

People and their family members had access to information about how to make a complaint about the service.

Systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service that people received. The registered manager sought information and guidance from other agencies to continually develop the service.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

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.

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 (report published 12 June 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.