Archived: St Anne's Community Services - Fieldhead

Updated 6 October 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.

The inspection took place on 17 and 21 August 2018 and was announced on both days. The inspection team consisted of one inspector. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice because the location was a small care home for younger adults who are often out during the day. We needed to be sure that they would be in.

Prior to the inspection we reviewed information we had about the service including 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 looked at the notifications received from the service and any other information we had received to help us assess any risks at the service. We also contacted the local authority safeguarding and commissioning teams. We used this information to help us plan the inspection.

During the inspection we reviewed three people’s care records and two people’s medication records. We reviewed various policies and procedures relating to the running of the service such as the equality and inclusion and quality assurance policies. We looked at the recruitment files for two care workers and two agency workers.

We spoke with members of the staff team including the registered manager, deputy manager, three care workers and one agency worker. We used the Short Observation Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk to us.

Three professionals who worked alongside the service to support people were contacted for feedback. Feedback was also received from one advocate, who acted on behalf of the people that used the service.

Updated 6 October 2018

St Anne’s Community Services Fieldhead is a residential care home for up to five people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection. There were four people living at the service at the time of the inspection, all of whom who had lived there for around 25 years. There were no plans for a fifth person to move into the service. The home is a detached two storey house with enclosed outside space located in the village of Langthorpe.

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.

Sufficient staffing levels were in place. Workers from the service’s own staff team and agency told us they had a good working relationship, supporting people to promote their wellbeing.

Staff were aware of areas of increased risk, with mechanisms for monitoring them. Handovers included checks by two members of staff which helped maintain people’s safety.

Where people had behaviours that could challenge the staff Positive Behaviour Support plans (PBS) were in place. Staff were involved in the development of these, drawing on their experience to support the person safely.

Some checks were being completed within the service to identify what areas worked well and those requiring improvement. The registered manager was developing additional checks to improve quality assurance. They agreed more robust checks would help the service develop.

Staff constantly communicated to ensure people received timely support. Health action plans were used to record people’s health appointments and the outcome of these. Hospital passports contained information about people’s care and support needs to be shared with health professionals to inform their approach to working with people.

Staff received an induction and training relevant to their role.

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 support this practice.

Care plans were focused on people’s strengths and how to help them achieve outcomes. They contained details of people’s routines to help staff understand individual preferences. Care workers knew how to adapt their communication to support people to understand and express their views. An advocate had regular involvement with all the people living at the service to help with this. This showed the service worked to involve people in their care and support.

We saw positive interactions between people and staff. Staff knew people’s preferred interests and activities.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.