Primrose Hill Farm

Updated 6 January 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

Two inspectors carried out this inspection.

Service and service type

Primrose Hill Farm is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Primrose Hill Farm is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection

We spoke with 10 people who used the service and 4 relatives about their experience of the care provided.

We spoke with 17 members of staff including the registered manager, assistant manager, deputy managers, team leaders, senior support workers and support workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and four medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with two professionals who regularly visit the service.

Updated 6 January 2023

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Primrose Hill Farm is a residential care home providing personal care to 35 people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 39 people with a learning disability and/or autism. The home was divided into seven different houses, with separate office buildings on the grounds.

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

Whilst Primrose Hill Farm was a larger residential care home, the provider was working within the principles and values of Right support, right care, right culture.

Right Support:

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 were assessed so any potential risks were identified, and steps taken to keep them safe. Systems in place safeguarded people from abuse and staff were knowledgeable about how to support people safely. People were protected from harm, for example through infection control measures and safe management of medicines

Right Care:

Observations and records showed that people experienced choice and control over their support and care planning was person centred. The service promoted people's independence and people were engaged in activities that were meaningful to them. People's health needs were well managed and the service worked in partnership with other agencies to promote people's health and wellbeing.

Right Culture:

Systems and processes in place promoted a positive culture at the home that achieved good outcomes for people. Practices at the service were audited to monitor quality of the care people received and areas of improvement were identified. People had established routines and good relationships with longstanding staff members. People were treated with dignity and respect and were involved in shaping their care. The management team worked closely with staff and had a clear vision for the service.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 27 February 2019).

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about people’s care plans indicating excessive control over people’s freedom and choices. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe, effective and well-led sections of this full report.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.