Rowan Tree

Updated 14 March 2019

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.

The inspection was completed by one Inspector.

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. There was also a ‘service manager’ who looked after the day to day running of the supported living scheme.

We gave the service two days’ notice of the inspection site visit to give the registered manager time to seek people’s consent for us to contact them and meet with them.

Inspection site visit activity started on 12 February 2019 and ended on 13 February 2019. We visited the office location on 13 February to see the manager, meet with people; and to review care records and policies and procedures.

Before the inspection we looked at the provider information report (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 also spoke with a local authority who part commissions this service.

During the inspection we spoke with four people who used the service; two relatives; three members of staff and the registered manager. We looked at two people’s care records, two staff recruitment files, and competency records. Records of accidents and incidents. Audits and quality assurance reports.

Updated 14 March 2019

Redwood House is the registered office for a supported living scheme in Hertfordshire which comprises of two blocks of flats. People received support and care in their own flats which they rent from a housing provider. At this service 8 people were being supported with the regulated activity of personal care.

People enjoyed living at the supported living scheme and having the support from staff. People and staff had formed positive relationships and said they enjoyed each-others company. People said that they felt safe and well supported. People were also friendly and familiar with the management team.

People were involved in the planning of their care and led staff about what they wanted to do daily. The staff promoted people’s choices and set goals with them to help them achieve their aspiration and increase their independence with day to day living.

The service met the characteristics of Good in safe, effective, caring, and responsive. However, the service fell short of this characteristics in well led. There were short falls in safe recruitment checks for new and existing staff. Audits completed by the provider and the management team were not always robust. We found issues which the management teams audits had not identified. More information will be in the full report.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen. Registering the Right Support CQC policy.

At the last inspection the service was rated as good overall (this report was published in April 2016).

We inspected Redwood house supported living scheme as this was a planned inspection.

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.