Archived: Trinity House

Updated 8 November 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This unannounced comprehensive inspection took place on 28 September 2018, when we visited Trinity House. On 3 October 2018 we went to the head office at Acorn Village, where we reviewed the documentation around the management of the service. The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

We focused on speaking with people who lived at the service and observing how people were cared for. Where people had complex needs, and were not able to talk with us, or chose not to, we used observation to gather evidence of people's experiences of the service. We also spoke with four family members and three professionals to find out their views about the service. We spoke with the registered manager, the chief executive officer, the deputy manager, two care staff and office based staff who supported the running of the service.

As part of the inspection, we reviewed a range of information about the service. This included safeguarding alerts and statutory notifications, which related to the service. Statutory notifications include information about important events, which the provider is required to send us by law. We reviewed the provider information return (PIR), which is a statement of information registered providers are required to send the commission at regular intervals to help us understand the service provided and any current risks to the service. We reviewed the care records of two people who used the service and looked at a range of documents relating to the management of the service.

Updated 8 November 2018

Trinity House is a residential care home for 6 people with learning disabilities. It is set over three floors and located in on the high street of Manningtree, with good access to local services and amenities. It is near Acorn Village, where the head office is based along with a much larger service owned by the same provider. People and staff at Trinity House benefit from the resources and facilities available at Acorn Village. At the time of our inspection there were five people living at the service.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

Trinity House had a well-established staff team and management support structure. There was effective communication between the registered manager and staff. Staff were well supported and motivated. Regular checks were carried out on the quality of the service which improved the service people received.

There were enough safely recruited staff to meet people’s needs. Where people’s needs changed the registered manager reviewed the staffing and the skills of the staff team and made the necessary adjustments to maintain a good quality of support.

Staff knew what steps to take if they were concerned about a person. Senior staff carried out detailed assessment of peoples’ needs and risks to their safety and effective plans put in place to keep them safe and promote their wellbeing. People chose what they ate and drank, and received support to remain healthy. Staff worked well with outside professionals to meet people’s health and social care needs.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. The provider had a dedicated maintenance team and staff helped people reduce the risk of infection. The age and the layout of the building provided some challenges which the registered manager addressed effectively on an ongoing basis.

Staff knew people well and treated them with kindness. There was a relaxed friendly environment at Trinity House, which felt like a home rather than an institution. People were encouraged to remain independent, taking part in household tasks. Support was person centred and flexible, ensuring people had fulfilling lives. Care plans were cumbersome, but provided staff with the necessary guidance to meet people’s needs.

The provider promoted an open culture where people, families and staff felt able to speak out. Complaints and concerns were investigated in detail and used to improve the service.

Further information is in the detailed findings below