Archived: Spinney Hill

Updated 14 September 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 8 August 2017; the inspection was announced and undertaken by one inspector. We gave the provider 24-hours’ notice before we visited the service. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that people using the service, staff and the registered manager would be available.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return [PIR]. This 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. The provider returned the PIR and we took this into account when we made judgements in this report. We also reviewed other information that we held about the service such as notifications, which are events which happened in the service that the provider is required to tell us about, and information that had been sent to us by other agencies. This included feedback from the local authority who commissioned the service.

During our inspection we spoke with three people using the service, two care workers, one team leader and the registered manager.

We looked at the care records relating to the three people using the service and three staff recruitment files. We also reviewed other information such as, mental capacity assessments, deprivation of liberty (DoLS) applications, risk assessments, accidents and incidents, staff training and supervision, complaints, meetings minutes and quality assurance audits.

Updated 14 September 2017

This comprehensive inspection took place on 8 August 2017 and was announced. Spinney Hill provides care for up to three people with a learning disability or a mental health diagnosis. At the time of the inspection three people were using the service.

A registered manager was in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

At the last comprehensive inspection on 29 July and 2 August 2016 we found the provider was not meeting the legal requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. This was in relation to: Need for consent; Safe care and treatment and Good Governance. We asked the provider to make improvements and they sent us an action plan telling us how they planned to meet the legal requirements.

At this inspection we found the provider had made the necessary improvements and were meeting the legal requirements.

Systems were in place for the ordering, receipt, storage, administration and disposal of medicines. Risk assessments addressed specific areas individual to each person using the service. Staff understood their responsibilities to safeguard people from abuse and knew how to raise any concerns if they suspected or witnessed ill treatment or poor practice.

The Recruitment systems were robust to make sure the right staff were recruited to keep people safe. There was enough competent staff available with the right mix of skills to meet the needs of people using the service. Staff received training that was relevant to their roles and responsibilities, ensuring they had the skills and knowledge required to support people effectively.

Capacity assessments had been carried out for all people using the service, the assessments identified where people required help to make decisions, and where they lacked the mental capacity to make particular decisions. Deprivation of Liberty (DoLS) applications had been submitted to the local authority as required.

People were supported to maintain a healthy diet and have access to healthcare services in response to ill health and had routine health checks. People had developed positive relationships with the staff protected people's privacy and dignity. Advocacy services were available for people if required.

Detailed care plans in place, they contained information about people’s needs and aspirations; short term goals. People were encouraged to develop their independence and were supported to follow their interests and hobbies. The staff knew how to support people when they became anxious through using individual coping strategies. Systems were in place to receive and take appropriate action to address any complaints.

A registered manager had been appointed; they took their responsibilities seriously and had made significant changes to the quality of the service people received. Quality assurance systems were being used to continually monitor and improve the service.