Poldark

Updated 3 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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Poldark 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 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 unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information that we held about the service such as notifications. These are events that happen in the service that the provider is required to tell us about. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

The provider had not been requested to complete a provider information return prior to the inspection.

During the inspection

We met the person living at the service. The person was not able to fully share their experience of living at Poldark, therefore we spent time observing staff with the person and talking with staff about how they supported the person. We spoke with three care staff, the behavioural analyst, operational manager, manager and deputy manager. We spoke with a visiting health and social care professional.

We reviewed the person’s care and medication records. We looked at staff records in relation to recruitment, training and supervision. We also looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service and quality monitoring systems.

We also looked at independent quality audits and a review of service provision that had been undertaken by health and social care commissioners.

After the inspection

We reviewed care documentation. We provided an opportunity for staff to contact us to share their experience of working at Poldark and for the organisation Greenlight. We spoke with two relatives to hear their views of the service. We requested feedback on the service’s performance from two health and social care professionals.

Updated 3 December 2019

About the service

Poldark provides care and accommodation for up to one person who have autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of the inspection one person was living at the service. Poldark is a leased property on a long-term basis by Green Light PBS limited who run several similar services within Cornwall, for people living on the autistic spectrum.

Poldark is a detached bungalow situated in a quiet rural location. Poldark opened in February 2019 and this is the first inspection of the service.

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. The person using the service receives 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

Staff were caring and compassionate.

Staff demonstrated an understanding of the person’s differences and individual preferences.

Staff and managers had a good understanding of equality issues. They valued people as individuals and staff took pride in their achievements.

Relatives told the service the interest and activities that the person enjoyed. The relatives and staff were still debating how the person should be involved in the activities and the duration of the activities that met the person’s current needs.

Staff understood their roles and responsibilities in relation to ensuring the persons safety.

The person was supported to try new experiences while any related risks were identified, and action taken to help reduce the risks.

The person was supported to have 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 person’s care plan was accurate and provided staff with enough guidance to enable them to meet their needs. Information provided to staff about the person’s communication preferences was accurate and useful.

The person received their medicines on time from staff who had received training in medicines administration. Medicine records were in the main completed appropriately. Staff needed to double sign all handwritten entries of medicines on MAR records to ensure they are completed safely.

Staff were recruited safely in sufficient numbers to ensure the person’s needs were met.

The person was supported by staff who had the skills and knowledge to meet their needs. Staff received induction, training and supervision to assist them to carry out their work.

Staff actively supported the person to maintain links with their family.

The person was supported to access healthcare services. Where significant risks to people’s health were identified staff worked collaboratively with the person and relevant health care professionals to prevent their condition deteriorating.

Staff encouraged people to eat a well-balanced diet and make healthy eating choices.

Relatives views varied in how confidant they felt the service was run or that their concerns would be listened to. They acknowledged that the placement was still in the stages of developing.

Professionals were positive about the service and summarised that the placement met the persons current care needs.

There is a clearly defined management structure and regular oversight and input form senior management. The ethos of the service is ‘Empowering people to lead a lifestyle they are proud of’. Staff are aware and working to support the person to achieve this.

The manager was in the process of submitting their registered manager application with the Care Quality Commission for Poldark service only. The current registered manager oversees three services and so divided their management responsibility between them.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This was the first rating of the service.

Why we inspected

This was the first planned comprehensive inspection of the service. This service has an overall rating of Good.

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.