Archived: Heath Rise

Updated 22 April 2021

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Heath Rise 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

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service.

During the inspection

We were unable to speak to people using the service. We spoke to one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, care workers and the human resources manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and two people’s medication records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including recruitment, oversight, policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 22 April 2021

About the service

Heath Rise is a care home providing personal care to 4 people with a diagnosis of learning disabilities and/or autism at the time of the inspection.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Risks to people had not been consistently assessed or mitigated. Risk assessments were not always kept up to date. Equipment used to reduce risks had not been kept in good working order.

Infection control procedures required improvement. Not all procedures were followed regarding taking staff and visitors temperature. Cleaning schedules had gaps in the records.

Records of care tasks contained gaps in the recording. These issues had not been identified prior to the inspection.

Systems and processes to ensure oversight of the service required improvement. We found limited audits completed and most audits had not been completed since November 2020.

People were supported by staff who knew them well and had been safely recruited. Not all staff had received up to date training. However, the registered manager was in the process of ensuring training was updated.

People received their medicines as prescribed and staff were competent to administer medicines.

Care plans were person centred and detailed for each person. Information was given to people in a format that suited their needs.

The service had not received any complaints within the past 12 months. Complaints, when received, were dealt with appropriately and within the providers timeframe.

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.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

This service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

Right support:

• Model of care and setting maximises people’s choice, control and independence

Right care:

• Care is person-centred and promotes people’s dignity, privacy and human rights

Right culture:

• Ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensure people using services lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 15 January 2019).

Why we inspected

We received concerns in relation infection control and a COVID-19 outbreak. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.

We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

The overall rating for the service has changed from good to requires improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Heath Rise on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Enforcement

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service.

We have identified breaches in relation to risk assessments, infection control and oversight of the service at this inspection.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

We will request an action plan for the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.