Archived: Bowden House

Updated 19 June 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:

The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type:

Bowden House is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Bowden House provides care for people requiring support with mental health needs, substance misuse and/or learning disabilities. The service provides accommodation and care for up to 11 people.

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 this inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service, which included correspondence we had received and any notifications submitted to us by the service. Statutory notifications are information the registered provider is legally required to send us about significant events that happen within the service. For example, where a person who uses the service has a serious injury. The registered manager had completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). The PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We contacted social care commissioners who help arrange and monitor the care of people living at Bowden House. We also contacted Healthwatch Sheffield. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used the feedback we received from these organisations to plan our inspection.

During this inspection we spoke with seven people living at Bowden House. We spoke with four members of staff which included, the registered manager, the general manager, a team leader and a support worker.

We looked at two people's care records. We checked a sample of medication administration records and three staff files, which included recruitment checks, supervisions and appraisals. We also looked at other records relating to the management of the service, such as quality assurance documents.

We spent time observing the daily life in the service and we looked around the building to check the home was safe and clean.

Updated 19 June 2019

About the service:

Bowden House provides care for people requiring support with mental health needs, substance misuse and/or learning disabilities. The service provides accommodation and care for up to 11 people. The service is set over three floors. Everyone has their own room and ensuite. At the time of the inspection nine people were living at the service.

People’s experience of using this service:

People we spoke with told us they felt safe. Safeguarding procedures were robust and staff understood how to safeguard people.

Individual risk assessments were completed for people so that identifiable risks were managed effectively.

Systems were in place to make sure managers and staff learn from events such as incidents, concerns and investigations.

People we spoke with didn’t express any concerns about the staffing levels at the service. There were enough staff to ensure people’s care and support needs were met.

There were robust recruitment procedures in place so people were cared for by suitably qualified staff who been assessed as safe to work with people.

The service had appropriate arrangements in place to manage medicines so people were protected from risks associated with medicines.

The service was clean and had a welcoming homely atmosphere.

People we spoke with told us they were satisfied with the quality of care they had received. People were supported by staff who knew them well. All the people we spoke with made very positive comments about the staff team and the general manager.

Staff had undertaken training which was regularly updated to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to support people effectively. Staff had received specialised training to meet the needs of people using the service. Staff told us they felt supported.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were encouraged and supported to eat regular and balanced meals.

During the inspection we observed staff giving care and assistance to people. They were respectful and treated people in a caring and supportive way.

There was a range of activities on offer to people living at Bowden House. People were encouraged and supported to engage in activities within the community.

People we spoke with told us they knew who the general manager was and felt confident they could raise any concerns with them.

The registered manager and general manager had a good oversight of the service and were experienced in their role. Staff we spoke with made very positive comments about the staff team and the managers.

There were planned and regular checks completed at the service to check the quality and safety of the service provided.

Rating at last inspection:

At our last inspection Bowden House was rated good (report published 14 January 2017).

Why we inspected:

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.