High View Residential Unit

Updated 5 April 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:

• This inspection was conducted by one inspector.

Service and service type:

• HighView Residential Unit is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as 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:

• Our inspection was informed by evidence we already held about the service.

• We asked the service to complete a Provider Information Return. 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 spoke with two people who used the service and one relative.

• We spoke with the registered manager, a team leader and a rehabilitation assistant.

• We reviewed two people's care records, three staff personnel files, audits and other records relating to the management of the service.

• We observed the way staff interacted with people living in the home and performed their roles and responsibilities.

Updated 5 April 2019

About the service: Highview Residential Unit is a care home that accommodates up to seven people that had primarily acquired brain injury related to substance misuse or alcohol and drug related problems. At the time of our inspection seven people were residing at the home.

People’s experience of using this service:

• At our last inspection we found that staff were not regularly supported through supervision, appraisal and regular training. Improvements had now been made in these areas with staff receiving regular support.

• At our last inspection quality assurance systems were not effective, areas for improvement were not promptly identified and care plans weren’t reviewed regularly. The registered manager had implemented quality assurance systems, ensuring that quality of care was continually reviewed.

• At this inspection some improvements were needed to ensure that medicines were always managed safely. Controlled drugs administration was not always recorded accurately, in line with best practice guidance. Following the inspection the provider had commenced implementation of the required improvements.

• We also found that staff files did not always evidence staff full employment history and appropriate references. Following the inspection the provider sent us records to show that they had obtained the documentation for the files we viewed, and assured us they would commence a full staff file audit.

• People and relatives felt that staff were caring and compassionate towards peoples needs. People’s care needs were regularly reviewed to ensure the home was meeting their needs.

• The home was continually reviewing the activities they offered people, to ensure they were appropriate to meet people’s individual needs.

• Comments about the management of the home were positive, with staff feeling well supported and the registered manager being proactive in making improvements across the service.

Rating at last inspection: At our last inspection of 11 and 12 April 2018 (published 29 May 2018) the service was rated ‘requires improvement’. We found one breach of the regulations in relation to good governance. There were also gaps in staff training and supervision, and medicines administration was not always accurately recorded.

Why we inspected:

• All services rated "requires improvement" are re-inspected within one year of our prior inspection.

• This inspection was part of our scheduled plan of visiting services to check the safety and quality of care people received.

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