Archived: Pendarves

Updated 24 December 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 two inspectors.

Service and service type

Pendarves 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 did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. The last registered manager of this service left in August 2021. A registered manager 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

Before the inspection we reviewed previous inspection reports and other information we held about the home including any notifications. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

During the inspection

Two inspectors visited Pendarves on 16 November 2021. We looked around the home and observed staff supporting people. We spoke with the three people living in the home, the manager and three other members of staff. We looked at detailed care records for two people, and other records relating to the running of the service such as rotas, audits and staff training records.

After the inspection

We asked the provider to send a poster to relatives and friends of people living in the home and to staff who were not present on the day. The poster asked for feedback and we requested this be provided by 23 November 2021. We received feedback from one further member of staff.

We contacted three healthcare professionals and two social care professionals to seek their feedback. We received feedback from a social care professional and a healthcare professional.

Updated 24 December 2021

About the service

Pendarves provides care and accommodation for up to four people who have autistic spectrum disorders. The service is part of the Spectrum group who run several similar services throughout Cornwall. At the time of the inspection three people were living at the service. The service was based in a large semi-detached house in a residential area of Camborne.

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

Pendarves had been through a period of unsettled management. The new manager had been promoted into their position two months before our visit. Whilst staff had felt the impact of these changes and did not feel supported by the provider organisation, they told us they continued to be part of a strong team.

People were supported by a manager and stable staff team who knew them well and were committed to ensuring high quality, person centred care. There were usually sufficient staff to achieve this and staffing had not fallen below levels deemed safe by the provider.

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:

• Two people shared communal space and another person lived in their own flat. Their support was designed to enable them to live the lives they chose. People were supported to develop and maintain their independence

Right care:

• The support people received was person centred. Staff promoted people’s dignity and treated them respectfully. They understood people’s needs and provided security and encouragement.

Right culture:

• The staff at Pendarves were committed to ensuring people were leading the lives they wanted. The staff team were open with each other and willing to challenge and be challenged to achieve this goal. People were treated with dignity, respect and care.

Staff described their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding with confidence. People told us they felt safe.

Medicines were managed safely. People received their medicines when needed and appropriate records had been completed. People had access to healthcare professionals.

Risks to individuals and the environment were managed effectively and people’s views informed their risk management plans. There were systems in place to record, monitor and review accidents and incidents to reduce future risks.

Staff development was supported through induction, support and guidance from colleagues and the manager, and training relevant to the needs of the people they cared for was provided.

Infection control procedures and measures were in place to protect people from infection control risks associated with COVID-19.

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 did support this practice.

People's care and support needs were assessed and reviewed. People worked with their keyworkers, and the staff communicated effectively with each other, to ensure care plans remained relevant and ensured consistency.

There were systems in place to monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service provided to people. People and staff contributed to these systems within the home. People told us they knew how to raise concerns and complaints, and staff explained they encouraged this. No complaints had been made in the year before our visit.

The manager and staff team were open and transparent and acted on feedback given, and queries raised, throughout the inspection.

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

Rating at last inspection

The rating at the last inspection was Good. (Published August 2018)

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns in relation to staffing levels across the organisation. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.