Bridgewood House

Updated 21 March 2020

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

Bridgewood House 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 the last inspection. We used information we had received through our ongoing monitoring of the service and feedback we received from the local authority. 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.

During the inspection

We spoke with seven people living at Bridgewood House to ask them about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff including, the registered manager, the senior care worker and two care workers. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

We reviewed records relating to the care people were receiving and the management of a care home. This included, the medicine systems, two care plans, training and supervision records, audits, records of servicing and maintenance and a sample of policies and procedures.

Updated 21 March 2020

About the service

Bridgewood House is a residential care home providing personal care to 18 people with learning disabilities and physical disabilities. People living at the home had varying abilities with some people living more independently in four bungalows on the site.

The service had 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 service was in a rural location with limited access to public transport and the service was larger than current best practice guidance. However, the size of the service having a negative impact on people was mitigated by the building design fitting into the residential area and other domestic homes of a similar size. There was a separate building with bungalows that allowed people to develop their independence. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

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

Individualised risk assessments had improved. Staff were confident they would raise concerns to safeguard people. Robust recruitment and selection procedures ensured suitable staff were employed.

Medicines were stored safely and staff were trained to administer them correctly. We found records relating to 'as and when required' medicines needed to be put in place, the registered manager actioned this immediately.

There were enough staff to support people and staff were always visible. Staff received support and a variety of appropriate training to meet people's needs.

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.

Care plans were person centred and people were involved in their reviews where they were able. The registered manager confirmed additional work would be taken place to ensure people’s care plans were easier to navigate.

People were supported to engage in activities they enjoyed, and we saw the service promoted people accessing local community facilities and supporting them to go on trips and holidays.

There were quality assurance systems in place to ensure care and support were kept to a good standard. The service worked with a range of healthcare and multidisciplinary professionals to achieve good outcomes for people.

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

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published12 March 2019).

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.