Archived: Arran House

Updated 24 October 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. 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.

Inspection team

One inspector carried out this inspection.

Service and service type

Arran house is a ‘care home.’ People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people are often out. We wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough local authorities and two mental health professionals who work with the service. We also contacted Healthwatch. Not all provided a response. 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 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. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

During the inspection, we spoke with the four people who used the service. We also spoke with the registered manager, house manager, three support staff and an administrator. We reviewed one person’s care records in detail and two staff supervision, appraisal and training records. We also reviewed records related to the day to day running of the service.

After the inspection

We contacted the nominated individual after inspection to access quality assurance records and to validate evidence found. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

Updated 24 October 2019

About the service

Arran House is a mid-terrace property which has been adapted. It is situated in Guisborough. The service provides residential care for up to four adults who have learning disabilities and mental health needs. At the time of inspection four people were using the service.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People had access to their own room and communal spaces both inside and outside of the property. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

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

People said they were very happy living at the service. They were supported to do all they wanted to do in their lives. Staff monitored and responded appropriately to risks enabling people to do this. There were enough staff on duty at all times. Medicines were safely managed, and the service was clean throughout.

Staff had the right training to support people in all aspects of their care. People had regular access to healthcare for all of their health and well-being needs. The service was well maintained.

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.

People received very good care from staff who knew them well. Staff were responsive to people’s needs and people's privacy and dignity needs had been met. People were involved in their care and staff supported them to have a voice. Advocacy services had been sought when needed.

People received individualised care. Records were in place to reflect this knowledge. Care plans for end of life care and training needed to be completed. People were involved in a variety of activities which were in-line with their social interests. People knew how to raise a complaint.

The staff team worked well together to deliver good care. There was oversight from the registered manager. Effective quality assurance processes were in place. Feedback was sought and used to improve the quality of care.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

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 good (published 1 April 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

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