Dixons Farm

Updated 13 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

One inspector undertook the inspection.

Service and service type

Dixons Farm 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 the inspection

Prior to the inspection we checked the information we held about the service. This included feedback, concerns, information relating to investigations and notifications the service is required to send to us by law. We also asked for feedback from professionals who had experience of the service. We received feedback from two professionals who regularly visit the service. 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 one person who used the service and sought feedback from one relative. We also undertook observations in the public areas of the service. We spoke with eight staff members. These included, five care staff, the deputy manager, the operations director and the registered manager who took overall responsibility for the service. We looked at a number of records. These included, one care record, medication administration records, three staff files and training records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service, including audits, meeting minutes and actions taken since the last inspection.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 13 March 2020

About the service

Dixons Farm is a residential care home providing personal care for up to six people living with a Learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder and younger adults in one adapted building. Six people were living at the service at the time of the inspection.

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.

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

People were safe living in the service, staff had received relevant training and records detailed the actions taken as a result of allegations. Risks were managed safely; relevant servicing and checks had been completed. Incidents and accidents were recorded and actions had been taken as a result, including lessons learned. Medicines were managed safely and no concerns in relation to infection control were noted.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

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. Relevant capacity assessments and best interests assessments had been undertaken. Evidence confirmed relevant professionals were involved in people’s care and needs. A range of meals according to people’s choice and needs were provided. The service had been designed to support people’s individual needs. The registered manager told us of their ongoing refurbishment plans.

People received good care. We observed kind and caring interactions between staff and people. People were treated with dignity and respect and their choices were considered.

Care files contained information about how to support people’s individual needs. A range of activities were provided to people according to their likes and choice. Technology was being used to good effect in the service. A system had been developed to ensure complaints were managed.

We received positive feedback about the management, the support they offered and the changes since the last inspection. All members of the staff team were open and transparent during the inspection. Audits and monitoring of the service was ongoing and team meetings were taking place.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 1 March 2019) and there were two breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.