Archived: Champion House - Care Home with Nursing Physical Disabilities

Updated 27 June 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.

A comprehensive inspection took place on 22 and 25 May 2018 and was unannounced. On day one, the inspection team consisted of two adult social care inspectors. On day two, the inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector.

We used information the provider sent to us in the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We reviewed all the information we held about the service. This included any statutory notifications that had been sent to us. We contacted the local authority commissioning and contracts department, safeguarding and Healthwatch to assist us in planning the inspection. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.

The inspection was prompted in part by notifications of two incidents following which a one person using the service sustained a serious injury and both people had a visit to hospital following the incidents. The information shared with CQC about the incidents indicated potential concerns about the management of risk of choking and falls from moving and handling equipment. This inspection examined those risks. We also received whistleblowing information prior to our inspection, which raised concerns regarding people’s safety at the home and the response to safety risks from the registered manager. This information formed part of our inspection planning and the areas of concerns were reviewed during our comprehensive inspection.

We spoke with eight people, one person’s relatives, four nurses, six support staff, five domestic, kitchen and maintenance staff, the activity co-ordinator, the administrator, the registered manager and the regional manager. We observed care interactions in the communal lounge and observed the lunchtime meal on day one of the inspection. We reviewed documents and records that related to people’s care and support and the management of the service. We looked at three people’s care plans in detail and a further three care plans for specific information. We also sampled people’s medication administration records.

Updated 27 June 2018

A comprehensive inspection took place on 22 and 25 May 2018 and was unannounced.

Champion House - Care Home with Nursing Physical Disabilities, known to people, their relatives and staff as Champion House, is situated in Calverley, a rural area mid-way between Leeds and Bradford. It is part of the Leonard Cheshire Disability company. The care home accommodates 27 people in one adapted building and provides residential and respite care, over two floors. Rooms are singly occupied and provide necessary aids and adaptations to suit people’s individual requirements. There are well appointed communal areas and communal bath and shower rooms located on each floor. On both days of our inspection there were 25 people living at Champion House, providing care and support for people with a physical disability.

When we completed our previous inspection on 3 February 2017 we found the registered provider was not meeting the regulation relating to the management of medicines. We issued a requirement notice as systems in place did not ensure people received their medicines as prescribed. Following the last inspection, we asked the registered provider to complete an action plan to show what they would do and by when to improve the service.

The purpose of this inspection was to see if improvements had been made with management of medicine and to review the quality of the service currently being provided for people. We also wanted to look at recent concerns raised by a whistle-blower and information shared with CQC about the two incidents which indicated potential risks. ‘Whistleblowing’ is when a worker reports suspected wrong doing at work. At this inspection we found the service had met the requirement notice in regards to the management of medicines.

At the time of the inspection there was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People who used the service told us they felt safe with the care they received and there were systems and processes in place to protect people from the risk of harm. Staff and the registered manager had a good understanding of safeguarding adults and knew what to do to keep people safe. A new medication management system had recently been introduced and staff were getting used to the recording of the administration medicines. We found the registered provider had appropriate arrangements currently in place to manage people’s medicines safely. We found people had access to healthcare services to make sure their health care needs were met.

We found people were cared for, or supported by, sufficient numbers of suitably qualified and experienced staff. Robust recruitment procedures were in place and staff completed an induction when they started working for the registered provider. Staff received the training which ensured people received appropriate care and support to meet their individual needs.

People told us they enjoyed the meals provided and their suggestions were incorporated into menus. We observed the dining experience was a pleasant occasion and people received appropriate support with their meal when required.

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.

We found the home was well maintained, bedrooms had been personalised and communal areas were comfortably furnished. We saw throughout our inspection people were treated with sensitivity and kindness. Staff had a good rapport with people. People’s dignity and privacy was respected. Staff had a good knowledge and understanding of people’s needs and worked together as a team.

Support plans were detailed and provided information about people’s individual needs and preferences. There was opportunity for people to be involved in a range of activities within the home or the local community. We saw people enjoying the different activities available during our inspection.

The registered manager promoted a person-centred approach to end of life care.

Staff told us they felt supported by the registered manager and people who used the service had opportunity to comment on the quality of service and influence service delivery. People and staff told us they found the registered manager approachable and they listened to them. People told us if they needed to complain they would speak with the registered manager.

The service had good management and leadership. Effective systems were in place which ensured people received safe quality care. Complaints were welcomed and were investigated and responded to appropriately.