Edward Gibbons House

Updated 13 February 2021

This was a targeted inspection to check on a specific incident following which a person who used the service died. We will assess all of the key questions at the next comprehensive inspection of the service.

Inspection team

The inspection was conducted by two inspectors and an inspection manager. One inspector and an inspection manager visited the service and a second inspector conducted telephone calls to people who use the service and staff following the site visit.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in a ‘supported living’ setting, 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.

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

The inspection was announced with short notice. We notified the registered manager on the day before to ascertain if it was safe for us to proceed with an inspection site visit, in accordance with COVID-19 safety protocols. Inspection activity commenced on 13 January and concluded on 25 January 2021.

What we did before the inspection

We spoke by telephone with the registered manager in relation to the specific incident and requested additional information to be sent to us. We also reviewed other information we held about the service. This included the last inspection report and notifications of important events which the provider is required by law to send us, for example safeguarding referrals and incidents when the police were contacted. 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. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager, who provided us with a tour of the premises. We discussed with the registered manager how people could urgently summon staff support in the event of an emergency, accident or any other unforeseen event.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We spoke via video conference with five people who used the service and spoke by telephone with seven members of the staff team. We requested and reviewed a range of records which included care records for four people, staff rotas and training records, and infection prevention and control guidance. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed, including policies and procedures.

We contacted local health and social care professional with experience of the service and received written comments from two professionals. We completed the inspection by providing feedback via a video conference with the registered manager and the nominated individual, who is responsible for the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

Updated 13 February 2021

About the service

Edward Gibbons House is a supported living service that provides care and support for up to 35 men with health and social care issues linked to drugs or alcohol misuse. There were 32 people living at the service at the time of this inspection. The premises contained five en-suite bedsits and 30 single bedrooms with shared bathroom facilities. 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.

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

People were supported to understand about safeguarding themselves and others. They received information about how to raise concerns and complaints. People told us they felt comfortable speaking with staff if they were worried about their safety or any other aspect of their care.

People were provided with a safe environment which was clean and hygienic. They were protected from the risks of COVID-19 by staff who advised them about the dangers of the pandemic.

People were encouraged to co-produce their own care plans and risk assessments to enable them to understand their health and social care needs, so they could actively participate in their recovery. Other parts of the care plans and risk assessments were written by staff who undertook assessments and liaised closely with external multi-agency staff, including social workers and community nurses.

People received their care and support from staff who were well trained and supported to carry out their roles and responsibilities. There were sufficient staff rostered to support people to meet their needs and wishes.

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.

People commented on the approachable manner of the registered manager and staff team. They felt the service was well organised and properly managed. People were encouraged to take part in the daily running of the service, although it wasn't possible to continue with established groups and meetings due to COVID-19 restrictions.

We have recommended the provider seeks guidance from a reputable source about the use of a call bell system and the extension of the existing provision of CCTV in communal areas to increase safety for people within the premises.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was outstanding (published 25 May 2018). The overall rating for the service has not changed following this targeted inspection and remains outstanding.

Why we inspected

We undertook this targeted inspection to check on a specific incident following which a person using the service died, having sustained a serious injury. This incident is subject to a criminal investigation. As a result, this inspection did not examine the circumstances of the incident. We checked whether the provider had robust systems in place to identify and reduce risks to people’s safety and wellbeing, deliver individual care and support in line with people’s needs and wishes and ensure people were supported by sufficient staff with suitable training and guidance.

CQC have introduced targeted inspections to follow up on Warning Notices or to check specific concerns. They do not look at an entire key question, only the part of the key question we are specifically concerned about. Targeted inspections do not change the rating from the previous inspection. This is because they do not assess all areas of a key question.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm.

Please see the safe, effective, responsive and well-led sections of this report. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Edward Gibbons House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service. We may inspect again if we receive any further concerning information.