Background to this inspection
Updated
9 February 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
One inspector carried out the inspection.
Service and service type
L’Arche Faith House 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. L’Arche Faith House 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 a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
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 communicated verbally and nonverbally with 4 people. We spoke with 4 members of staff including, the registered manager, locality leader, and 2 support workers. We looked at 3 people's care plans and risk assessments. We looked at a range of other records including accidents and incidents, 3 staff recruitment files, medicines records, surveys and audits. We looked at staff rotas minutes of staff and residents’ meetings and quality assurance
After the inspection we spoke with 4 relatives and sought feedback from visiting professionals.
Updated
9 February 2023
About the service
L'Arche Faith House is a service for up to 5 people with learning disabilities and autism. The service is in a residential area of Canterbury. There is a main house where 4 people live and an annex for 1 person to live with support. L'Arche is a Christian based charity that supports people of all faiths and none in their services. There were four people living at the service when we inspected.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
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.
Right Support:
Risks to people had been identified but there was not full guidance in place to mitigate the risks. Environmental risks had not always been identified and resolved to limit unnecessary risk to people.
People were supported by staff who understood best practice in relation to the wide range of strengths, impairments or sensitivities people with a learning disability and/or autistic people may have.
Staff were recruited safely and there was enough staff deployed to ensure people received the care and support they needed, when they needed it.
Staff supported people with their medicines in a way that promoted their independence and achieved the best possible health outcome. People were supported to play an active role in maintaining their own health and wellbeing.
People had 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. Staff communicated with people in ways they could understand and respond to. The staff gave people care and support in a safe, clean, well equipped, well-furnished environment that met their diverse needs.
People were assisted to achieve their aspirations and goals. Staff focused on people's strengths and abilities to learn and develop new skills. People pursued their interests that they had chosen.
Right Culture:
Quality assurance systems were in place to monitor the service people received. However, they had not identified the shortfalls we found at this inspection in regards risk assessments and risks within the environment.
Staff placed people's wishes, needs and rights at the heart of everything they did. People led inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management and staff.
Staff evaluated the quality of support provided to people, involving the person, their families and other professionals as appropriate.
Right Care:
People were treated with kindness and care. Staff showed genuine affection in their approach. Staff knew people well. Day to day choices were offered to people and staff demonstrated a good understanding of people. People were encouraged to take an active role with tasks such as making meals and helping around the service. Staff protected and respected people's privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual needs.
Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it. Staff promoted equality and diversity in their support for people. They understood people's cultural needs and provided culturally appropriate care. People could communicate with staff and understand information given to them because staff supported them consistently and understood their individual communication needs.
People's care, treatment and support promoted their wellbeing and enjoyment of life.
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 9 May 2018).
At our last inspection we recommended that the registered provider reviews the timescales for following up issues identified during quality audits. At this inspection we found some improvements had been made however we found that the provider had not identified risks during quality assurance audits.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe and Well-led. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from good to requires improvement based on the findings of this inspection. We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report.
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 L’Arche Faith House on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Enforcement
We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed. We have identified a breach in relation to safe care and treatment and have made a recommendation in relation to governance and oversight.
Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report. Full information about CQC's regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.
Follow up
We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.