Bridlington

Updated 24 December 2019

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

One inspector carried out this inspection.

Service and service type

Heathcotes (Bridlington), 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 had a manager registered with the CQC. 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 unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information available to us about this service. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as abuse. We sought feedback from the local authority. The provider sent us a provider information return prior to the 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. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager, the deputy manager, the area manager, three support workers and five people. We looked at two people’s care records. We also looked at people’s medication administration records and a selection of documentation about the management and running of the service. We looked at recruitment information for two members of staff, staff training records, policies and procedures and records of compliments/complaints.

After the inspection

We contacted three relatives of people using the service. Two provided feedback.

Updated 24 December 2019

About the service

Heathcotes (Bridlington), is a care home providing personal care for up to twelve people with a learning disability and/or autism, with a specialism in prader willi syndrome. Prader willi syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that results in a number of physical, mental and behavioural problems. A key feature is a constant sense of hunger. At the time of our inspection twelve people lived at the service.

People’s experience of using this service

Without exception, all feedback received about the support provided to people was extremely positive. People who lived at the service received extremely high-quality, personalised support from a passionate and committed staff team. The staff team were partners in an exceptionally well-led service.

Staff were fully committed to providing a truly person-centred service. Staff were very proud to work for the service and said they received superb support from the registered manager. People said staff were undoubtedly caring and knew their needs very well.

People’s health was extremely well managed. People’s life had significantly improved from the support they received with their nutrition. Health outcomes had greatly improved for people living at the service including reduced reliance of medicines to support health conditions. People had clear guidance and consistency regarding food and diet and they responded well to this.

The staff team were extremely skilled in effective communication to ensure people felt supported and relaxed. This impacted on people’s behaviours and ability to build relationships with family and friends.

The registered manager provided strong leadership and constantly considered how they could enhance the service. They were creative and innovative at looking for ways to meet individuals needs and created packages of support to suit them in line with best practice. There was a solid structure of governance embedded in the service and action plans drove forward any areas for improvement. There was excellent team work within the service.

People were fully integrated into the local community. They had access to a variety of activities which enhanced their wellbeing and sense of purpose. Complaints procedures were in place and followed. People’s wishes at the end of life were explored.

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.

Risk was extremely well managed, and the service was creative to look at positive risk taking. Recruitment checks were in place to ensure staff were suitable to work at the service. Staff had received training and support to enable them to carry out their role. Relatives felt staff were excellently trained in their role.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People received their medicines safely and on time.

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 23 May 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.