Anro House

Updated 12 July 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.

The comprehensive inspection took place on 18 June 2018 and was unannounced.

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Before the inspection 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 also contacted commissioners and health professionals, one of whom responded and their feedback is included within this report.

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.

On the day of inspection, we spoke with three people and three members of staff. We also observed interactions between staff and people.

With the consent of people, we looked at two care plans. We also looked at a range of other documents, such as; policies, medicine records, audits, daily logs, the communication book, meeting minutes, development plans and two staff files.

After the inspection we spoke with the registered manager who was not present on the day of inspection. We also received feedback from a relative of a person living at Anro House.

Updated 12 July 2018

Care service description

Anro House is a residential care home for up to five people with learning difficulties. The large terraced property is situated close to the Deal seafront and is within close walking distance to shops and leisure facilities.

Rating at last inspection

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good.

The inspection took place on 18 June 2018 and was unannounced.

Anro House accommodates four people in one adapted building. Anro House 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.

Not everyone using Anro House receives regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.

The care 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 and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.” Registering the Right Support CQC policy.

Anro House continued to enable people to live their lives to the full. The atmosphere was calm and friendly, staff and people talked and laughed together. Staff treated people with kindness and respect. A relative told us “I cannot find one fault with Anro House, the care is fantastic there”.

People at Anro House continued to be safe. Staff knew how to report suspected or alleged abuse and people had opportunities to raise concerns. Risks to people were identified and mitigated against and people were encouraged to take risks to promote their wellbeing and independence.

Staff continued to be recruited safely. Staff took part in a range of face to face and eLearning which staff described as “superb”. People told us that they thought staff had appropriate training to care for them. Staff regularly met with and felt supported by the registered manager who they went on to describe as “very helpful and supportive”, a “super boss”.

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.

Medicines continued to be managed safely. Policies and procedures were in place and a system of regular audits and checks of all areas of the service meant that any errors were quickly identified and resolved.

The premises continued to meet the needs of people. It was clean and well maintained. Staff knew how to protect against the spread of infection and people helped with cleaning and laundry. Since the last inspection, redecoration had taken place and peoples rooms were large and decorated to peoples individual tastes.

Care continued to be steered by developments in best practise. The registered manager attended a variety of learning disability forums and developments were discussed in team meetings and through training sessions. Care plans were person centred and thorough and were written in a way that was meaningful to people.

Staff knew people very well, they spoke with fondness about each person and told us about them in detail. Peoples communication needs were assessed and staff used different methods to enable people to communicate their views and choices in their own way, through discussions, reviews and house meetings.

People were supported to lead healthy lives. Staff encouraged healthy eating and exercise and people decided on the menu, chose the ingredients and were involved in preparing and cooking meals.

Staff worked well together and there was a clear vision that staff demonstrated. When people were unwell, staff responded quickly and contacted the relevant professionals. Policies and procedures were in place to ensure that care was responsive and delivered consistently within Anro House and throughout health services.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. Staff worked with people and their representatives to ensure that care plans and support reflected their care needs. People discussed what they would like to happen if they were to pass away, and their wishes were respected.

The registered manager sought feedback from people using the service, staff, relatives and health professionals and an accessible complaints procedure was available. Complaints, compliments, feedback, errors and incidents were recorded and these were collected and analysed by both the registered manager and the provider to identify patterns and if lessons could be learnt.

People’s information was kept securely in the office and staff were respected people’s privacy, dignity and confidentiality.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.