This inspection took place on 24 and 29 August 2017 and was unannounced. This is the first inspection of the service as it was only registered in August 2016. Beaufort House provides accommodation and support for up to six people, who have a learning disability or an autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of the inspection five people were living at the home.
A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the home. 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 home is run.
At the time of the inspection the service did not have a registered manager in place. A temporary management team had been put into place, which had taken over the overall running of the service. The current running of the home was being overseen by a temporary manager (who will be referred to as ‘the manager’ throughout this report) and a temporary head of care (who will be referred to as ‘the head of care’ throughout this report). The manager and head of care was from a neighbouring home also owned by the provider.
Quality assurance systems had failed to address shortfalls found at this inspection. The provider had asked for feedback from people’s families but had failed to address their concerns. Families did not feel listened to or involved in the care of their relatives.
There were not effective systems in place to ensure that staff received training and supervision necessary to their roles.
Records relating to peoples' care and treatment were not fully completed and monitored to identify omissions and to analyse concerns. Family or professional contact had had not always been recorded.
Where accidents, incidents, and near misses had occurred there was not an effective system in place to ensure that appropriate action was taken to mitigate any risks or prevent reoccurrence.
The manager and provider had sought feedback from people and families using the service. However were issues and concerns were raised there was no process in place which demonstrated that concerns or issues had been addressed.
People were supported to have enough to eat and drink. However were not always encouraged or supported to have healthy diets. Staff supported people to eat and drink, when necessary in a patient and friendly manner.
People and their families told us they felt the home was safe. Staff had received safeguarding training and was able to demonstrate an understanding of the provider’s safeguarding policy and explain the action they would take if they identified any concerns.
The risks relating to people’s health and welfare were assessed and these were recorded along with actions identified to reduce those risks in the least restrictive way. They were personalised and provided sufficient information to allow staff to protect people whilst promoting their independence.
There was enough staff to meet people’s needs and to enable them to engage with people in a relaxed and unhurried manner.
There were suitable systems in place to ensure the safe storage and administration of medicines. Medicines were administered by staff who had received appropriate training and assessments. Healthcare professionals, such as chiropodists, opticians, GPs and dentists were involved in people’s care when necessary.
Staff sought consent from people before providing care and followed legislation designed to protect people’s rights.
Staff developed caring and positive relationships with people and were sensitive to their individual choices and treated them with dignity and respect.
Staff were responsive to people’s communication styles and gave people information and choices in ways that they could understand. They were patient when engaging with people who could not communicate verbally and who used a variety of signs, noises and body language to express themselves. Staff were able to understand people and respond to what was being said.
We found two breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.