Background to this inspection
Updated
3 July 2019
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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team:
The inspection was conducted by an adult social care inspector.
Service and service type:
The Poplars is a care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care. The Care Quality Commission (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. The registered manager was not available on the day of the inspection.
Notice of inspection:
The inspection was unannounced.
Inspection site visit activity was completed in one day on the 10 June 2019.
What we did:
Prior to the inspection we reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about. We also sought feedback from the local authority. We assessed the information in the provider information return. This is key information providers are required to send us about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used this information to help us plan the inspection.
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.
During the inspection we spoke with two people living at The Poplars and four relatives. We also spoke with the registered service manager, an advanced care coordinator, a team leader and a support worker. We observed how care was provided at various points throughout the inspection.
In addition, we looked at two care records, two staff recruitment files, records relating to the administration of medicines, audits and other records associated with the management of the service.
Updated
3 July 2019
`About the service: Sefton New Directions Limited - The Poplars Resource Centre (The Poplars) is a residential care home which is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for nine people with physical and learning disabilities. Accommodation is provided across two single-storey buildings on the same site. The home provides short-stay, respite care to meet the needs of people in living in their own homes.
The service has 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. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
The service was a large home, bigger than most domestic style properties. It was registered for the support of up to nine people. Three people were using the service at the time of the inspection. This is 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 the other large domestic homes of a similar size. 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:
The service provided short-term, respite care and support in accordance with best-practice. People who used the service and their relatives spoke very positively about their experience and the care provided by staff.
Staff treated people with kindness and respect and supported their dignity in a sensitive manner. People were encouraged and supported to maintain and improve their independence. They were actively involved in decision-making regarding their own care and developments within the service.
Staff knew people very well. They understood their needs and provided effective care to keep them safe. Risk was subject to regular review and was effectively managed. People received their medicines as prescribed from trained staff. The home was clean and generally well-maintained. Refurbishment plans were in place to further improve the environment.
Staff received regular training and support and were equipped to provide effective care. Additional training was available in relation to specialist health conditions. 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 records captured important information regarding people’s histories, families and preferences. This information was used to adjust the provision of care to meet each person’s needs.
The registered manager, provider and staff promoted an open, positive culture with a focus on high-quality, person-centred care. The registered manager and provider made effective use of audits and other sources of information to review and improve practice. The home had forged links with other services and resources in the local community to support further development.
More information is provided in the full report.
Rating at last inspection: Good (report published 20 December 2016)
Why we inspected: This was a scheduled inspection based on the previous rating from the last comprehensive inspection.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk