Archived: L'Arche Kent Cana

Updated 3 March 2018

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 comprehensive inspection took place on 16 January 2018 and was announced. We let the service know that we were coming the day before. Some people needed time to prepare for unfamiliar people being in the house, and we wanted to give them the opportunity to speak with us and participate in the inspection. The inspection was carried out by one inspector as the service was small.

Before the inspection the registered manager completed a Provider Information Return. We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We reviewed the last inspection report and other information including any notifications. Notifications are information we receive when a significant event happens, like a death or a serious injury.

We met and spoke with five people. We spoke with four members of staff, the registered manager and one visitor. We sampled various records including three care plans, medicine records, audits, checks and handover sheets. We observed how people were supported and how staff interacted with people. We requested feedback from two health care professionals but no response was received at time of writing this report.

Updated 3 March 2018

L’Arche Cana 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. L’Arche Kent Cana provides accommodation and personal care to five people with learning disabilities. There were five people living at the service when we inspected.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

Rating at last inspection

At the last inspection, the service was rated ‘Good.’

Rating at this inspection

At this inspection we found the service remained 'Good'.

Why the service is rated Good

People had lived at the service for some considerable time and continued to feel safe and well looked after. Staff were aware of how to protect people from abuse and had received training to keep people safe. The service was clean and everyone was supported to help with the domestic tasks. Checks were made on the premises to make sure it was safe, including fire and health and safety checks. Adaptations were made to the service to support people with their mobility such as additional hand rails and a walk in shower.

People were supported to do what they wanted to do and staff helped them in the least restrictive ways to take risks and enjoy their lives.

People enjoyed varied activities of their choice and were able to access the community when they wanted. People were at the centre of the service and encouraged to follow their goals and dreams; they went out regularly, participated in day activities and met their friends and family.

There was enough staff on duty to ensure people received the care they needed. Staff were trained and checked before they started to work at the service to ensure they were safe to work with people. People told us the staff were good and they knew them well.

There was an emphasis on person centred care and people were treated with dignity, respect and compassion. People’s support and care plans were reviewed regularly and staff responded to people’s changing needs. Support plans were clear with detailed information to make sure people received the right support.

Everyone had a health care plan and information to take with them should they need to go to hospital. People were supported to keep healthy and received their medicines safely.

The registered manager told us that they were in the process of asking people how they wanted to be cared for at the end of their lives. People’s records were stored securely to ensure confidential information was protected.

Staff treated people with mutual respect and equality making sure that everyone had choices and was involved in their care. Everyone was given the opportunity to voice their opinions on the service and to be involved in the service. People, staff and visitors told us about the L’Arche community and how they met up with old friends and staff who used to work at the service. They described how the community enriched people’s lives and form lasting friendships.

The service had a registered manager who was supported by a very experience senior manager in the service. Staff told us that the management were always available for guidance and support. Regular staff meetings and supervision ensured staff received the support they needed to carry out their roles. The management team carried out audits regularly to assess the quality of the care being provided and took any required action to continuously improve the service.

Everyone was treated as an individual and there was an atmosphere of equality throughout the service. Staff told us how the service celebrated different faiths and encouraged people to follow their own beliefs. The culture of the service was open and inclusive and there were strong links with the community, such as the local church, people in the village and the neighbours.

Incidents or accidents were recorded and were reviewed and action taken to reduce the risks to people living at the service. People were able to express if they were unhappy but there had been no complaints since the last inspection. The complaints procedure was clear with pictures to help people to understand how they could raise any issues.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.