Crumble Cottage

Updated 25 December 2021

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 undertaken by one inspector.

Service and service type

Crumble Cottage 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.

Due to recent changes in the provider’s management structure, the manager registered with CQC in respect of Crumble Cottage was no longer managing the service on a day to day basis. There was a manager in post who was registered to manage other services run by the provider. The manager intended to apply to add Crumble Cottage to their registration.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service short notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people are often out. We wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since their registration. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We spoke with the person using the service to gain their experience of the care and support provided. We spoke the manager, who was part of the person’s support team and was providing direct support that day.

We reviewed a range of records. This included one person’s assessments and care plans, and medicines records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including meeting minutes, some and quality assurance records and policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We reviewed records in relation to staff recruitment and training, and further quality assurance records. We spoke with a member of support staff, and three professionals involved in supporting people’s health, social care, and education. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 25 December 2021

About the service

Crumble Cottage is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 2 young people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder and who may have mental health needs. At the time of the inspection one person was using in the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

This service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

Right support:

• People lived in an ordinary, family home which integrated well within the community. People were able to access their community and nearby shops. The location benefited people being able to access the countryside for walks and bike rides.

Right care:

• Care was person-centred and promoted people’s dignity, privacy and human rights. People were supported in the least restrictive way and education and learning was promoted.

Right culture:

• The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensured people using the service were leading confident, inclusive and empowered lives.

The service provided care and support that was person centred

People's needs were assessed, and care and support was planned and delivered in a person-centred way. People had very full and active lives. They had access to full time education and engaged in meaningful and varied social and leisure activities of their choice. People were protected from avoidable harm. We saw that people were comfortable in the presence of staff and people told us they felt safe. People's medicines were managed safely. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs and they were recruited in a safe way that kept people safe.

People had regular access to healthcare services to make sure their health care needs were met. People’s nutritional needs were met.

Staff received appropriate training, which was relevant to their role and to people's individual needs. Staff were clear on how to identify and report any safeguarding concerns.

People’s health and wellbeing were well supported. 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.

The registered provider had a culture of learning and improvement. There was an effective system of governance in place to monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service. Staff worked well with partner professionals to meet people’s individual needs.

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 1 November 2019 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection of a 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 re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.