St Patrick's House

Updated 22 August 2020

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted as part of our Thematic Review of infection control and prevention in care homes as part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced. We gave the provider 24 hours' notice of the inspection to ensure the registered manager could make arrangements for the visit in line with restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included the action the provider said they would take to address the shortfalls identified at the last inspection. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager, a quality and compliance auditor from the provider’s head office and three people who use the service.

We reviewed a range of records relating to medicines management and infection prevention and control.

Updated 22 August 2020

About the service

St Patrick’s House is a care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to eight people with learning disabilities in one adapted building. At the time of our inspection there were six people living at the service. There were communal rooms such as a dining room and lounge areas and a small garden which was accessible.

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.

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

People’s medicines were not always managed safely. At our last inspection we found concerns with regards to medicines records. At this inspection we saw the required action had been taken in part. This meant there was still further improvement required with medicines recording.

Risks were assessed and managed and people were supported to take positive risks. Staff had been recruited safely and there were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Staff had been trained and felt supported in their roles and they had opportunity for supervision. The service was clean and there were health and safety checks being carried out.

People’s needs were assessed and if needed referrals were made to healthcare professionals. Staff communicated with each other about changes to people’s needs. 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. People had meals they had chosen and ate when they wished. There was always choice available.

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. Staff encouraged people to do what they could for themselves and offered support when necessary. People could follow their interests and maintain relationships with their friends and family members.

People had a personalised care plan and health action plan which outlined people’s needs and the care and support required. These had been reviewed when needed. People had a care review which involved healthcare professionals and others who were important to people such as family. Staff kept daily records which were appropriate and legible. People had chosen to record their wishes for end of life care.

There was a new manager in post who had made some positive changes. People and staff told us the manager was approachable and they enjoyed living and working at St Patrick’s House. People and relatives knew how to make a complaint but had not needed to. Quality monitoring was in place and the manager had an action plan to monitor improvements. The service supported people to access their community and had community links with services in the local area.

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

Rating at last inspection (and update)

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 8 February 2019). At that inspection we found the service was in breach of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection there had not been enough improvements made and the provider was still in breach of regulation.

The service remains rated requires improvement. This service has been rated requires improvement for the second consecutive inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches in relation to medicines management at this inspection. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.

Follow up

We will request an action plan for the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.