Coppice Close

Updated 25 February 2022

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

Two Inspectors and an Expert by Experience carried out the inspection. 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

Coppice Close 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 unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since registration with CQC. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. 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 or communicated with 11 people who used the service and six relatives about their experience of the care provided. People who used the service who were unable to talk with us used different ways of communicating including using Makaton, pictures, objects and their body language. We spoke with 11 members of staff including the deputy manager, registered manager and operations manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and four medication records. We looked at four 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 and quality assurance records. We contacted professionals who regularly visit the service, two professionals provided us with positive feedback about the care people received.

Updated 25 February 2022

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Coppice Close is a care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 16 adults with learning disabilities and/or a variety of associated health and support needs. At the time of inspection, the service was supporting 16 people. The service was split into four bungalows, with four people living within each property.

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

Right Support

The type of support and care provided, maximised people's choice, control and Independence. People were supported to live as independently as possible at a service which encouraged and inspired people to live full lives. Staff supported people to make choices and to remain connected with their family, friends and the local community.

People and relatives told us staff supported people to take part in activities and pursue their interests in their local area. Staff supported people to play an active role in maintaining their own health and wellbeing. Relatives were consistently positive about how people were supported, a relative said, “The carers know [person] well and they can get the best out of [person].” The service gave people care and support in a safe, clean, well equipped, well-furnished and well-maintained environment. This met their sensory and physical needs, while making it feel homely.

Right Care

People received kind and compassionate care. Staff were caring and spoke very fondly of the people they supported. Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual needs with genuine regard for the person. A relative said, “Staff all need medals, the staff know how to treat [person].”

People received care that supported their needs and aspirations, was focused on their quality of life, and followed best practice. A health professional said, “I have been really impressed with how well staff members appear to know and treat the people they support.” Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. The service worked well with other agencies to do so. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it. People and relatives told us they felt safe. A relative said, “I am alerted if anything is amiss even minor things so I feel I can trust them to keep [person] safe.”

Right culture

Staff placed people's wishes, needs and rights at the heart of everything they did. The registered manager and staff understood the importance of family to the people and made communication a priority. A relative said, "I find the manager to be very good, he is very hands on and proactive.”

People and those important to them, were involved in planning their care. Staff knew and understood people well and were responsive, supporting their aspirations to live a quality life of their choosing. We saw staff fully involving people with activities and tasks of their choosing. A staff member said, “People are treated like a family, we do anything they ask to ensure they can live their life and we encourage them to make their own choices.” People's quality of life was enhanced by the service's culture of improvement and inclusivity.

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.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 7 January 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture. This was a planned first inspection following registration with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

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.