Jane House

The provider had implemented measures to reduce the risk of infection. Staff had access to the personal protective equipment (PPE) they needed for their roles and had received training in its use.

Staff kept the home clean and hygienic. Additional cleaning schedules had been implemented since the beginning of the pandemic, including for high-touch areas such as door handles.

The provider had an appropriate infection prevention and control (IPC) policy. Staff carried out regular IPC audits to ensure standards in this area were monitored effectively.

The provider had taken action to minimise risks to people who used the service and staff. Risk assessments had been carried out to identify and mitigate risks, including for people in vulnerable groups.

The provider had a contingency plan for the service, which had been reviewed in the light of changing Covid regulations.

Staff had accessed weekly Covid testing. If staff returned positive test results, they did not return to work until they had completed an appropriate period of self-isolation.

People who lived at the home also had access to testing and the provider sought their consent to this. The provider had appropriate procedures in place to ensure decisions were made in people’s best interests if they lacked the capacity to make a decision.

If people returned positive test results, staff supported them to self-isolate in their bedrooms. A member of staff was assigned to support each person self-isolating. This meant staff were available to support people in their chosen in-house activities. If people chose to leave their bedrooms, staff reported that they cleaned any communal areas people had used afterwards.

The provider recognised the importance of consistent staffing and support for people due to their communication needs. The staff at Jane House only worked at this service. The registered manager told us the service did not use agency staff.

People’s families were unable to visit the home at the time of this inspection due to national coronavirus restrictions. Staff had supported people to maintain contact with their families through platforms such as FaceTime and WhatsApp video calls.

Staff had supported people to access healthcare treatment if they needed it. Some healthcare appointments had been held via video link but when necessary, such as for dental treatment, people had been supported to attend face-to-face appointments. Any visitors to the home were screened before entering the service, including temperature checks.

The provider had supported staff during the pandemic through the provision of information and guidance, at team meetings and at individual supervisions. Staff had been encouraged to speak up about any anxieties or concerns they had.

We found the following examples of good practice.

The home’s staffing model ensured people received consistent support and minimised the movement of staff in and out of the service. If staff needed to use public transport to travel to and from work, they did so outside peak hours to minimise the risk of infection.

Staff had used resources such as social stories to provide information about Covid-19 to people in an accessible way. This had helped people understand Covid restrictions and the reasons for them.

Further information is in the findings below.

Jane House is a care home that provides accommodation and personal care support for up to eight adults with autism and learning disabilities. At the time of our inspection the home was fully occupied.

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’s experience of using this service

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.

Appropriate recruitment checks had taken place before staff started work and there were enough staff available to meet people’s care and support needs. The service had safeguarding and whistleblowing policies and procedures in place and staff had a clear understanding of these procedures. Risks to people had been assessed to ensure their needs were safely met. People’s medicines were managed safely. The service had procedures in place to reduce the risk of infections.

People’s care and support needs were assessed before they started to use the service. Staff had the skills, knowledge and experience to support people appropriately. Staff were supported through induction, training and regular supervision. People were supported to maintain a healthy balanced diet and had access to health care professionals when they needed them. 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 and their relatives (where appropriate) had been consulted about their care and support needs. The service had a complaints procedure in place. There were procedures in place to make sure people had access to end of life care and support if it was required.

The registered manager worked in partnership with health and social care providers to plan and deliver an effective service. There were systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service and any learning was identified and acted on. The provider took people and their relatives views into account through satisfaction surveys. Staff enjoyed working at the home and said they received good support from the registered manager.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 13 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.

Jane House is a care home providing support to up to 8 people with autism and learning disabilities. At the time of our inspection there were 8 people living at the home.

There was a registered manager in post. 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.

Staff understood their role in safeguarding people. They had received training and demonstrated a good understanding of how they would protect people from abuse of potential harm. Staff routinely documented any incidents and these were analysed to ensure people received care that was responsive to their needs.

Staff worked alongside healthcare professionals to ensure people’s needs were met. People’s medicines were managed safely and administered by trained staff. Staff had been trained in how to support people with complex and challenging needs.

People’s independence was promoted by kind and caring staff, who knew them well. Where risks were identified, these were assessed and measures were identified to keep people safe. Staff had access to up to date care plans and people’s needs were reviewed regularly to identify any changes. Where restrictions were placed upon people, the correct legal process was followed.

People were supported to take part in activities that were important to them. Staff knew people’s hobbies and interests. Important information was gathered before people came to live at the home, and a robust transition process was in place to help people and staff get to know each other. Staff understood people’s needs and how they communicated. A clear complaints procedure was in place.

Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity and caring interactions that we observed were kind and compassionate. There were sufficient staff present to meet people’s needs safely, and staff told us that they were able to spend time with people. When employing staff, the provider undertook checks to ensure that they were appropriate for their roles.

The provider had robust systems in place to monitor the quality of the care that people received. Accurate and up to date records were maintained. Staff worked well together and were involved in the running of the home. Regular staff meetings took place and staff told us that they felt well supported by management.