Laural House

Updated 14 June 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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

One inspector carried out the inspection.

Service and service type

Laural House is a ‘care home.’ People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Laural House is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

We looked at all the information we had received about and from the home. 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.

During the inspection

One inspector visited Laurel House on 20 and 25 April 2023. We spoke/communicated with the 2 people who used the service. On 2 May 2023 we also spoke with 2 relatives about their experience of the care provided.

We spoke with 4 members of staff including the registered manager.

We checked 1 person’s medicines records and looked at arrangements for administering, storing and managing medicines.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 2 people’s care records and a variety of records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 14 June 2023

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.

About the service

Laural House is a residential care home providing personal care to 2 people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 2 people.

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

Right Support:

Risks to people were not always properly assessed to protect them from avoidable harm. The registered manager was responsive to our feedback and took action to address the issues identified immediately.

People's care plans did not always provide staff with historical information they required to meet people's needs.

People received their medicines from trained staff. However, staff competency assessments were not completed in line with national guidance.

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.

Staff focused on people’s strengths and promoted what they could do, so people had a fulfilling and meaningful everyday life. Staff supported people to make decisions following best practice in decision-making. Staff communicated with people in ways that met their needs.

People had a choice about their living environment and were able to personalise their rooms.

Staff worked with health professionals to achieve good health outcomes. Staff worked with other professionals to avoid people taking unnecessary medicines.

Infection control procedures and measures were in place to protect people from infection control risks associated with COVID-19.

Right Care:

Recruitment procedures were robust. Concerns were raised regarding staffing levels.

People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people’s privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to their individual needs.

Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it.

People could communicate with staff and understand information given to them because staff supported them consistently and understood their individual communication needs.

People who had individual ways of communicating, using body language and sign language could interact comfortably with staff and others involved in their care and support because staff had the necessary skills to understand them.

People’s care, treatment and support plans reflected their range of needs and this promoted their wellbeing and enjoyment of life. Where appropriate, staff encouraged and enabled people to take positive risks.

Right Culture:

People led inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management and staff. Throughout the inspection we observed that staff were respectful of people and took time to offer support and reassurance when needed.

Staff and the management team at the service spoke positively about people within the service and wanted people to live their best lives. Staff demonstrated their knowledge of people and how to support them to manage their individual risks. Staff placed people's wishes, needs and rights at the heart of everything they did.

People and those important to them, including advocates, were involved in planning their care.

The staff and management were open and transparent throughout our inspection and acted efficiently on queries and feedback throughout the inspection.

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 (published 16 May 2018)

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this 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.

Recommendations

We have made recommendations in relation to risk, staffing, medicines, and the management of the service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.