We carried out a review of the data available to us about Eastbourne & District Mencap - Arundel Road 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 Eastbourne & District Mencap - Arundel Road, you can give feedback on this service.
Eastbourne & District Mencap – Arundel Road is a residential care home that accommodates up to nine people with learning disabilities, autism and associated physical and sensory needs. At the time of the inspection there were nine people living at the home.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Risks to people were assessed and safely managed by staff. This included individual risks to their health and wellbeing. Guidance in place for staff was clear and staff knew how to support people to avoid harm from risks whilst maintaining their independence. One relative told us, “I really like that they have been able to balance quality of life with keeping people safe.”
Medicines were managed safely. Each person’s medicines were given by their own designated staff member who was supporting them throughout the day. Some people required epilepsy medicines to help them whilst having a seizure. Each person’s guidance around this medicine was clear and staff knew exactly what should be given at what point to protect the person.
There were clear infection, prevention and control (IPC) procedures to keep people safe. People and staff’s individual risks relating to COVID-19 were assessed and measures put into place to reduce the risk of infection. The registered manager told us about the importance of following infection control procedures whilst trying to maintain a homely environment.
There were systems in place to monitor the service and the provider strived to continuously develop to achieve good outcomes for people. The culture of the service focused on what people could achieve, and staff told us the registered manager provided a pro-active lead in supporting people to reach their goals and achieve new things.
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 guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.
Right support:
• Model of care and setting maximises people’s choice, control and Independence.
People living at the home had been supported to personalise their bedrooms and choose the colour of their walls, their furniture and items from home. There were no signs outside the home identifying it as a care home. People were supported to move freely around the home and there was a ‘safe’ kitchen for people to use as and when they chose to. The registered manager had made changes to the environment to encourage people living there to get involved in the daily running of the home. For example, the full length gate had been removed from the main kitchen door and people were able to sit in the room with staff and be involved in the preparation of food.
Right care:
• Care is person-centred and promotes people’s dignity, privacy and human rights.
People were supported by the same staff member throughout the day. This meant that people received continuous and focused support that promoted person-centred care. Activities at the home were designed around each individual and achievements were celebrated.
Right culture:
• Ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensure people
using services lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives.
We heard multiple accounts from staff and relatives about how the values of the service had improved and leadership of the service had led the way for people to be supported to live more empowered lives. Relatives of people were very positive about the changes the registered manager had made to the service and to people’s individual lives.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (24 September 2019)
Why we inspected
We undertook this targeted inspection following concerns raised in relation to risk management at the service. The overall rating for the service has not changed following this targeted inspection and remains Good.
CQC have introduced targeted inspections to follow up on Warning Notices or to check specific concerns. They do not look at an entire key question, only the part of the key question we are specifically concerned about. Targeted inspections do not change the rating from the previous inspection. This is because they do not assess all areas of a key question.
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 coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit.
Eastbourne & District Mencap - Arundel Road is a residential care home that accommodates up to nine people with learning disabilities, including autism, and associated physical, sensory disabilities and/or dementia. At the time of the inspection there were eight people living at the service.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service received planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice, control, independence and inclusion. People’s support focussed on them having opportunities to maintain relationships, engage in activities of their choice and maintain their independence.
People were unable to tell us if they felt safe but we observed positive interaction between staff and people living in the home. Staff had completed safeguarding training and explained how they would protect people from harm and what action they would take if they had any concerns. Relatives were confident their family members were safe, and they received the care and support they needed.
An ongoing training programme helped staff develop the skills and knowledge to provide appropriate support and staff clearly knew people very well. The aim of the service was to support people to be as independent as possible and make choices about all aspects of the support they received. This included the activities they took part in, where they spent their time and the food they ate.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this.
The registered manager encouraged people, relatives, staff and professionals to discuss and offer feedback about the services provided. An effective quality assurance and monitoring system was used to identify areas where improvements were needed and action was taken to address them.
The Secretary of State has asked the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct a thematic review and to make recommendations about the use of restrictive interventions in settings that provide care for people with or might have mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or autism. Thematic reviews look in-depth at specific issues concerning quality of care across the health and social care sectors. They expand our understanding of both good and poor practice and of the potential drivers of improvement.
As part of a thematic review, we carried out a survey with the registered manager at this inspection. This considered whether the service used any restrictive intervention practices (restraint, seclusion and segregation) when supporting people. The service used positive behaviour support principles to support people in the least restrictive way. The home did not use physical restraint but, supported people to sit safely in wheelchairs using belts, which had been agreed with the local authority.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
At the last inspection the rating was Good (published on 18 March 2017).
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.
There were 9 people living in the home during the inspection and all required some assistance with looking after themselves, including personal care and support in the community. People had a range of care needs, including limited vision and hearing and some could show behaviour which may challenge. People were unable to share their experience of life in the home because of their learning disability.
This inspection took place on the 31 January and 2 February 2017 and was unannounced.
A registered manager was present during the inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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.
At our inspection on 21 October 2015 we found the provider was not meeting the regulations with regard to assessing and monitoring of the services provided and notifying the Care Quality Commission (CQC) of incidents that had occurred within the home, which may have affected the support provided. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider met these regulations.
The quality assurance and monitoring system had been reviewed; audits had been carried out to identify areas where improvements were needed, including staffing levels and record keeping, and action had been taken to address these. Notifications had been sent to CQC to when required.
Pre-employment checks for staff had been completed, which meant only suitable staff were working in the home and there were enough staff working in the home to support people appropriately. Staff had attended safeguarding training and demonstrated an understanding of abuse and how to protect people.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care homes. The management and staff had attended training and had an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. The registered manager had followed current guidance by making appropriate referrals to the local authority for DoLS assessments.
People made choices about what they had to eat and where they spent their time. They enjoyed their meals and staff offered support when it was needed. People relaxed in the lounges watching programmes of their choice on the TV and listening to music or spent time in the community with assistance from staff to keep them safe. Staff had a good understanding of people’s needs and treated them with respect and protected their dignity when supporting them with personal care.
People had access to health professionals as and when it was required. The visits were recorded in the support plans with details of any changes.
A complaints procedure was in place. This was displayed on the notice board near the entrance to the building, and had been given to people and their relatives.
Staff and relatives said the registered manager was approachable and they felt involved in developing and improving the services provided.
Arundel Road provides support and accommodation for up to 9 young people with learning disabilities, autism and mental health issues. The home is one of three homes that are owned by the Eastbourne and District Mencap charity. There were 9 people living in the home during the inspection and all required some assistance with looking after themselves, including personal care and support in the community. People had a range of care needs, including limited vision and hearing; some could show behaviour which may challenge and people were unable to share their experience of life in the home because of their learning disability.
The home is a purpose built bungalow, made up of two separate units, with lounges and dining rooms in each unit. There is a large garden surrounding the building and all areas are accessible to wheelchair users and are secure.
A registered manager was responsible for the day to day management of the home and had been in post for several years. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (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.
This inspection took place on the 21 October 2015 and was unannounced.
The provider and registered manager had not informed CQC of incidents that had occurred within the home, which may have affected the support provided.
The quality monitoring and assessing system used by the provider to review the support provided at the home was not effective. It had not identified issues found during this inspection, including the gaps in records and support plans.
The staffing levels were not appropriate and staff were unable to evidence that they met all the needs of people living in the home. Pre-employment checks for staff were completed, which meant only suitable staff were working in the home.
Staff had attended safeguarding training and demonstrated an understanding of abuse and how to protect people.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care homes. The management and staff had attended training and had an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. The registered manager had followed current guidance by making appropriate referrals to the local authority for DoLS assessments.
People were able to choose what they ate and where and relatives said the food was very good.
People had access to health professionals as and when they required it. The visits were recorded in the support plans with details of any changes to support provided.
Staff had a good understanding of people’s needs and treated them with respect and protected their dignity when supporting them. A range of activities were available for people to participate in if they wished.
A complaints procedure was in place. This was displayed on the notice board near the entrance to the building, and had been given to people and their relatives.
Staff said the registered manager was approachable and they felt they were involved in developing and improving the support provided.
We found a breach of Regulation 18 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Registration Regulations 2009). You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.
We examined two care plans, and found that people who lived in the home and their relatives were involved in making decisions about the care provided. We observed staff speaking with people in a respectful and appropriate manner at all times. We saw that they asked people's consent before providing support and enabled people to make choices about how they spent their time.
We looked at the systems for the management of medicines and found appropriate procedures were in place.
People were supported to personalise their rooms, depending on their interests and hobbies. People had access to the dining room and lounges in the part of the building their rooms were situated in. The premises were well maintained and secure.
We looked at the staff rota. The staff we spoke with said they felt there were enough staff on duty to provide the care that people wanted and needed.
A complaints procedure was in place and available to people who lived in the home, relatives and visitors.