Background to this inspection
Updated
18 June 2022
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.
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
The inspection was completed by one inspector.
Service and service type
The Barn is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
The inspection was announced. We gave a short period notice because it is a respite service and there is not always someone staying there. We wanted to make sure someone was available to support us with the inspection process.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since their registration with us. We sought feedback from the local authority. The provider was asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does 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
We spoke with two members of staff and the registered manager. We met one person who was using the service at the time. Although, the person could not communicate verbally with us, we spent time observing how staff supported and interacted with them. We reviewed a range of records. This included three people's care records and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We also reviewed two agency staff files in relation to recruitment checks. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were also reviewed.
After the inspection
We spoke with three relatives and two staff. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
18 June 2022
About the service
The Barn is a residential care home providing personal care for up to six people with a learning disability and autistic people. The service provides short-term stays for people (respite). At the time of the inspection one person was using the service.
People stay in single bedrooms and there are shared areas including the kitchen, lounge and garden areas.
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.
There were systems to keep people safe from avoidable harm or abuse. Risks were appropriately identified and assessed and there were enough staff to ensure people had the level of support they needed to keep them safe.
Medicines were managed safely, and people received their medicines in line with their prescription.
There were detailed assessments of people’s needs before people started with the service.
Staff understood people’s own communication needs and were able to support people’s wishes and choices.
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.
Relatives told us their family members were supported by staff who were kind and caring. They told us that staff understood the needs of their loved ones and always ensured people were treated with dignity and respect.
The registered manager had established systems of governance and oversight of the service. They carried out regular audits and checks to monitor and review the quality of the care and support.
Where needed the registered manager and staff worked with external health and social care professionals to ensure that people’s care and support needs continued to be met.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.
Right support
The model of care promoted people's choice, control and independence. The environment was spacious and homely and was designed to allow easy access for people regardless of need.
Right care
Care is person-centred and promotes people's dignity, privacy and human rights. People were supported by staff who knew them well and understood their needs.
Right culture
Care and support was provided in line with least restrictive practices and staff had a positive person- centred approach.
The provider and registered manager worked hard to instil a culture of care in which staff truly valued and promoted people’s individuality, protected their rights and enabled them to develop and flourish.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 25 July 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care, right culture. This was a planned inspection for this newly registered service.
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.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.