Poplars

Updated 12 April 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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 2 inspectors.

Service and service type

Poplars is a ‘care home.’ People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Poplars is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post, however the provider had successfully recruited a new manager for the service, and they were due to start within the next 4 weeks.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 15 March 2023 and ended on 29 March 2023. We visited the location’s service on 15 March 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 2 people who used the service and 2 relatives about their experience of the care provided. Where people were unable to talk with us, we observed people’s interactions with staff. We spoke with 5 members of staff including the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We reviewed a wide range of records in relation to people’s care and support. This included 3 people’s care and medication records, 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and a variety of records relating to the management of the service.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 12 April 2023

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Poplars is a residential care home providing the regulated activity of accommodation and personal care to up to 6 people. The service provides support to people with learning disabilities and mental health conditions. At the time of our inspection 6 people were using the service.

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

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

Right Support:

The service was commissioned to meet the needs of people using the service. Care and support were provided in a safe, homely, well equipped, well-furnished environment which met people’s physical and sensory needs. People living at the service had adapted their bedrooms to their likings and were supported to attend outdoor pursuits of their choice and their independence was promoted.

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.

Right Care:

There were sufficient numbers of staff to keep people safe. Staff received a wide range of training to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to support people safely. These included, epilepsy awareness, safe administration of medication, safeguarding, dysphasia, positive behaviour support and a 2 day autism training course. Staff promoted equality and diversity in their support for people. People’s specific dietary needs were understood and being met. People told us staff respected their privacy and dignity when providing care and support. A complaints procedure was available and displayed to enable people to access it if they or their relatives had a need. We were told no complaints had been received at the time of our inspection. We observed people being treated with kindness, dignity, and respect.

Right Culture:

The support people received met their needs and aspirations. Support focused on quality of life and followed best practice. Staff involved people, their family and other professionals as appropriate to evaluate the quality of support given and obtain feedback to improve people’s day to day quality of life. People living at the home made choices and took part in meaningful activities and education which were part of their planned care and support. Staff supported them to achieve their aspirations and goals.¿¿¿¿

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 29 November 2019) and there were breaches of regulation. Regulation 12 (safe care and treatment), regulation 17 (good governance) and regulation 19 (fit and proper persons employed). The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

We undertook this comprehensive inspection to check the provider had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements.

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.

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

Recommendations

We have made a recommendation about the management of when required (PRN) medicines.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.