We carried out a review of the data available to us about Elizabeth House on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Elizabeth House, you can give feedback on this service.
About the service: Elizabeth House is a residential care home. It provides personal care and support for up to eight people who have learning disabilities and associated conditions, such as autistic spectrum disorders. At the time of the inspection there were eight people living at the service.
People’s experience of using this service:
People told or indicated to us that they felt safe and were happy living in Elizabeth House. The house was sociable with a calm, engaging atmosphere.
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.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support in the following ways:
• People were involved in planning their care.
• People were supported to follow their interests, set goals and increase their independence.
• People had good access to their local community and opportunities to meet people and were supported to maintain relationships with friends and family.
People were supported by a consistent team of staff who were kind and caring. Staff had good relationships with people and knew them well.
Staff had good knowledge of people’s condition, their needs, and how to support them appropriately. Care plans were person centred and gave clear guidance on how people wished to be supported with their diverse needs. Significant work had been done to ensure that the service was responsive to people’s needs. When significant decisions had been made, all people living in the service had been considered. This was continually under review to ensure that the service continued to meet the needs of everyone. People’s support and social needs were known and staff worked hard with the people to ensure that all of their needs were explored and met.
There was clear leadership and an open culture where staff and people could raise concerns or issues. The service had values which the staff worked to.
Rating at last inspection: Good (June 2016).
Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up: We will continue our on-going monitoring of the service and all information we receive. We will use this information to determine when we next inspect the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Elizabeth House is one of eight separate residential care homes within Purley Park Trust Estate. Elizabeth House provides personal care and support for up to seven people who have learning disabilities and associated conditions, such as autistic spectrum disorders. At the time of our inspection there were seven people living in the home.
The service had a registered manager as required. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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. The registered manager was present and assisted us during this inspection.
People told us they felt safe living at the home. Staff understood their responsibilities to raise concerns and report incidents or allegations of abuse. They felt confident it would be addressed appropriately. There were robust recruitment processes in place. All necessary safety checks were completed to ensure prospective staff members were suitable before they were appointed to post.
Risk assessments were carried out to ensure people’s safety. Staff recognised and responded to changes in risks to people who use the service. People received effective personal care and support from staff who knew them well and were trained and supervised. There were contingency plans in place to respond to emergencies.
People told us staff were available when they needed them and staff knew how they liked things done. The service ensured there were enough qualified and knowledgeable staff to meet people’s needs at all times.
The provider had employed skilled staff. They were knowledgeable and caring making sure people received appropriate care and support. People received support that was individualised to their personal preferences and needs. Their needs were monitored and care plans reviewed regularly or as changes occurred.
People received their prescribed medicine safely and on time. Storage, handling and records of medicine were accurate. Staff understood the needs of the people and we saw care was provided with kindness and compassion.
People were given a nutritious and balanced diet and hot and cold drinks and snacks were available between meals. People had their healthcare needs identified and were able to access healthcare professionals such as their GP. Staff knew how to access specialist professional help when needed.
People's rights to make their own decisions, where possible, were protected and staff were aware of their responsibilities to ensure those rights were promoted. People were treated with care and kindness. The service was meeting the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The DoLS provide a lawful way to deprive someone of their liberty, provided it is in their own best interests or is necessary to keep them from harm. The registered manager and staff were knowledgeable about Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Staff were following the principles of the MCA when supporting people to make a decision.
People were able to engage in meaningful activities or spend time with their visitors or by themselves. Their choices were always respected. People were encouraged to do things for themselves and staff helped them to be independent when they could.
People's wellbeing was protected and all interactions observed between staff and people living at the service were respectful and friendly. People confirmed staff respected their privacy and dignity. People benefitted from living at a service that had an open and friendly culture. People and their families were involved in the planning of their care.
Staff felt the management was open with them and communicated what was happening at the service and with the people living there. People were able to approach management and staff with any concerns.
The manager assessed and monitored the quality of care consistently with the help of staff and other members of staff in the company. The service encouraged feedback from people and families, which they used to make improvements to the service.
Throughout our inspection we saw examples of appropriate support that helped make the service a place where people felt included and consulted.
We spoke with three people who lived in Elizabeth House. They told us they enjoyed living there. They said the staff were “excellent” and “good fun”. They told us that they got on well with their house mates and there was always plenty to do.
We saw that the food was nutritious and the menu was varied. We saw that people were offered plenty to eat and drink throughout the day. People were encouraged to make choices about what they ate and to assist in preparing the meals.
There were processes to ensure that medication was obtained, stored and administered safely.
The provider had an effective process for monitoring the quality of the service provided.