Archived: Dramsdon

Updated 1 November 2019

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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Dramsdon is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

Before the inspection we reviewed the information, we held about the service. The registered manager completed a 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 looked at Notifications we had received for this service. Notifications are information about important events the service is required to send to us by law. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We observed the interactions and behaviours of three people who lived at Dramsdon. We looked at three people’s care records. We also reviewed staff personnel documents, training and supervision records and a range of records about how the service is run. We spoke with the area care manager, the registered manager, the deputy manager and three members of the care team.

After the inspection

We spoke with two relatives who were able to give us feedback. We contacted two health and social care professionals who visit the service but did not receive a reply.

Updated 1 November 2019

About the service

Dramsdon is a residential care home providing personal care for up to five people with learning disabilities and/or autism. There were five people living there at the time of the inspection. Dramsdon is a bungalow set in large gardens, within the village of Shalbourne.

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

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 receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when they were in the company of people.

People were supported by staff that were recruited through robust recruitment processes and had been trained effectively. Staff were aware of the different types of abuse and what action to take if there were concerns. There were sufficient members of staff on duty. Medicines were managed safely with safe systems in place to order, store, administer and dispose of medicines. Risks had been identified and risk management plans were detailed and reviewed.

People had their needs assessed which included health care needs. Support to access health care services was provided. 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.

Individual care plans were devised on how staff were to assist people to meet their needs. Communication needs were assessed and recorded in a communication passport. People were able to engage in social activities in their home and the local community. The service had built its own sensory lodge for people with sensory needs to aid their relaxation and de-escalate anxieties.

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

Rating at last inspection: Good, report published 03 April 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.