Burridge Farm

Updated 13 March 2020

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.

Inspection team

One inspector carried out the inspection.

Service and service type

Burridge Farm 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.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included notifications about incidents and accidents which the provider is required to inform us about. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We met all the people who live at Burridge Farm and spoke with two of them about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with staff including the provider, the manager, two senior support workers, a care worker and two administrators. We also met and spoke with a manager from another service owned by the same provider.

We reviewed records connected with the running of the service. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were also reviewed.

After the inspection –

We contacted staff in health and social care teams who have provided support and care to people living at the service. We received responses from three professionals. We also received feedback from one relative.

Updated 13 March 2020

About the service

Burridge Farm is a 'care home' registered to provide accommodation and personal care support for up to six people living with a learning disability and/or autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of this inspection six people were living there.

At the last inspection, we found a breach of Regulation 11 (Need for consent) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulations 2014). At this inspection the service was now meeting the requirements of this regulation.

Services for people with learning disabilities and or autism were supported. The service was in the countryside about two miles from the nearest village, Sandford. This did not impact negatively on people as there were sufficient staff and vehicles to ensure people could access the local community. The farmhouse was two storey and had 5 bedrooms as well as communal areas. There was also a separate annexe where one person had living space including a bedroom. There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate Burridge Farm was a care home. Staff were discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.

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

People were relaxed and happy with staff, who understood and were attentive to their needs. 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.

People were encouraged to be as independent as possible. People were supported to do activities both at the service and in the community. This included attending social events and clubs. People were also supported to develop and maintain life skills including personal care. People had choice and control over decisions where they had capacity to make them. For example, people were encouraged to choose what they had to eat, what they wore and what they did each day.

Feedback from people and their relatives was very positive. Comments included, “I am very happy here.” Professionals were also complimentary about the care and support people received. Comments included, “I have found that the service engages very well with me and feel they pass the ‘mum’s test’.”

People had care plans which described their risks, needs and preferences. Care plans provided information for staff on how to support people. Important details about each person were recorded, for example, details about their family and their background. Staff understood how each person communicated both verbally and non-verbally. People received their medicines from staff who had been trained and knew how to administer medicines correctly. Medicines were stored safely.

Staff were recruited safely. Staff were supported to do training to ensure they knew how to support people well. Risk assessments and care plans described how people should be supported to minimise risks and maximise people’s choices wherever possible. Staff understood the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and worked within this legal framework to support people. This included applying for Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards authorisations when necessary.

The newly appointed manager had applied to be registered with the Care Quality Commission. They had worked at the service as a deputy manager and therefore knew people, their relatives and staff well. Feedback showed they were well thought of. For example, professionals said they thought the service was well run by a manager who knew people well and understood their responsibilities.

There were systems to monitor and assess the quality and safety of the service. Where issues were identified there were improvement plans to address them. The provider was working with the manager to make changes to ensure the service delivered care in line with best practice. They were supported in this by health and social care professionals, including the quality assurance and improvement team at the local authority. The manager understood their responsibility to report significant events when necessary to the correct authorities including the Care Quality Commission. This included acting on their duty of candour where there were concerns about safeguarding vulnerable adults.

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Requires Improvement (published 20 February 2019)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk