Seven Steps Short Breaks

Updated 9 July 2021

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 so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Seven Steps Short Breaks 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. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and we wanted to ensure the registered manager was available to speak with.

Inspection activity started on 27 May 2021 and ended on 15 June 2021. We visited the service on 15 June 2021.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since it was registered. We sought feedback from the local authority and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used all of this information to plan our inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do 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 nine relatives of people who had used the service about the quality of care provided. We spoke with the registered manager and manager of the service. We also contacted care staff to obtain their views.

Prior to our visit the registered manager sent us a range of records. This included records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures. This enabled us to review these records and reduce our time on site. At our visit we reviewed a range of documentation. This included people’s care and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision.

Updated 9 July 2021

About the service

Seven Steps Short Breaks is a care home which offers respite/short stay accommodation for adults with learning disabilities. The service provides support to a range of disabilities including those individuals on the autistic spectrum and/or with a dual diagnosis. People living at the service work towards independent living, whilst others receive respite care. Two people were staying at the home on the day of our visit and were supported to go out on activities.

The service can accommodate up to seven people in one adapted building. There are two ground floor accessible bedrooms and one wet room. The first-floor accommodation consists of five bedrooms and two bathrooms. There is an open living room, dining room, reception and kitchen area. Outside there is a sensory garden area and a wheelchair accessible seating area.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

This service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. The service maximised people’s choice, control and independence. People were supported with independent daily living skills. People’s care was person-centred and promoted people’s dignity, privacy and human rights.

There was an exceptionally strong, visible person-centred culture. The service ensured staff in all roles were highly motivated and offered care and support that was exceptionally compassionate and kind. The registered manager and staff ensured people using the service lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives. People were treated with dignity and respect, and their privacy was protected. People enjoyed staying at the home and their achievements were celebrated. Relatives told us staff were exceptionally caring. Health professionals feedback showed the culture of the service was open, inclusive and empowering.

Staff were aware of their responsibilities in keeping people safe. Medicines were managed safely at the service. There were recruitment procedures in operation to promote people’s safety. We were assured the provider was making sure infection outbreaks were effectively prevented or managed.

Relatives made positive comments about the care their family member had received. Staff had undertaken training which was regularly updated to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to support people effectively. Staff had received support to enable them to carry out their duties. Staff told us they enjoyed working at the service and would recommend the service to family and friends.

Care plans were person-centred. Care plans were reviewed regularly and changed to reflect current needs. The service promoted people’s wellbeing by taking account of their needs including activities within the service and in the community. Complaints were recorded and dealt with in line with organisational policy.

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.

Relatives and staff made positive comments about how well the service was run by the senior managers.

There were quality assurance and audit processes in place to make sure the service was running well.

Why we inspected

This service was registered with us on 25/07/2019 and this is the first inspection.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

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