Archived: Russett House

Updated 28 September 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 13 September 2016 and was unannounced. It was carried out by an adult social care inspector.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We looked at the information in the PIR and also looked at other information we held about the service before the inspection visit. At our last inspection of the service in July 2014 we did not identify any concerns with the care provided to people.

During the inspection visit we met with all six people who lived at the home. People were unable to express their views verbally to us. We therefore spent time observing care practices and interactions between people and the staff supporting them.

We spoke with six members of staff and the registered manager. We also spoke with one visitor during our visit and one relative on the phone after the inspection. We looked around the premises. We also looked at records which related to people’s individual care and to the running of the home. These included two care and support plans, two staff personnel files and records relating to quality assurance systems.

Updated 28 September 2016

This inspection was unannounced and took place on 13 September 2016.

Russett House is one of a number of services operated by Somerset County Council Learning Disability Services. The home provides care and support to up to ten service users with profound and multiple learning disabilities. The home is purpose built and is situated in a quiet residential area of Yeovil.

The last inspection of the home was carried out in July 2014. We did not identify any concerns at that inspection. Since the last inspection the building has been completely refurbished to offer accommodation in two units each accommodating up to five people. The refurbishment meant people had to move to temporary accommodation where they remained for over a year. At the time of the inspection six people were living at the home.

There is a registered manager in post. 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.

There was a relaxed and happy atmosphere in the home and people were very comfortable with the staff who supported them and with the registered manager. There was lots of laughter and friendly banter between people and staff. A number of staff told us the refurbishment of the building had had a positive impact on people’s well-being.

Staff felt well supported and received the training they required to effectively support people. People’s medicines were administered safely by staff who had received specific training and supervision to carry out the task.

The registered manager told us they aimed to provide a person centred service where people could decide how they lived their lives. Staff responded to people’s needs and wishes and encouraged people to make choices about their day to day lives. Staff had a good knowledge of each person and how they communicated which enabled them to offer people choices using a variety of methods.

People and/or their representatives were involved in decisions about their care and support. People had been consulted on the refurbishment of the home and staff had used pictures and colour swatches to help people make choices about décor and furnishings.

People’s privacy was respected and each person had a single room where they could see visitors in private and spend time alone when they chose to. Staff supported people to keep in touch with friends and family.

People received effective care which met their needs and staff responded to changes in people’s needs and wishes appropriately. People had access to a range of health and social care professionals and staff acted on specialist advice given when planning and delivering care and support.

The provider had policies and procedures which helped to minimise the risks of abuse to people. Risk assessments had been carried out to make sure people were able to take part in activities with minimum risks to themselves and others.

Staff knew how to support people who lacked the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves. This made sure people’s legal rights were protected.