Acacia House - Peterborough

Updated 23 March 2021

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.

As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 5 March 2021 and was announced prior to us entering the home, so we could ensure that measures were in place to support an inspection and manage any infection control risks.

Updated 23 March 2021

Acacia House - Peterborough is a residential care home providing personal care to five younger adults at the time of the inspection with autism, physical and learning disabilities. The service can support up to five people in one adapted building.

Although the service has been running for many years prior to the Registering the Right Support best practice guidance; we saw the service had 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 Secretary of State has asked the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct a thematic review and to make recommendations about the use of restrictive interventions in settings that provide care for people with or who might have mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or autism. Thematic reviews look in-depth at specific issues concerning quality of care across the health and social care sectors. They expand our understanding of both good and poor practice and of the potential drivers of improvement.

As part of thematic review, we carried out a survey with the registered manager at this inspection. This considered whether the service used any restrictive intervention practices (restraint, seclusion and segregation) when supporting people.

The service did support people effectively in line with positive behaviour support principles. Staff were trained to support people using positive behaviour support.

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

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 service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

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.

People and a relative felt reassured by having their, or their family member’s, care provided by staff at the service. Staff understood their duty to report any concerns they had about poor care and potential harm to people. However, the registered manager had not notified one safeguarding incident to the CQC that they were legally obliged to. Individualised risk assessments were in place to identify possible risks to people. Staff had information available to them to refer to on how to monitor and reduce risks to people. Staff worked in conjunction with guidance from external health care professionals to help support and maintain people’s well-being.

Staffing levels were looked at and determined to make sure they met the needs of the people using the service for example people who required one-to-one support at the service and within the community. Trained staff safely managed medicines. However, completed medicine administration records were not kept on file.

To develop their skills and knowledge, staff received training, competency checks, supervisions and appraisals. People were supported to maintain their independence where appropriate. Staff promoted people’s food and drink intake.

Staff respected and promoted people’s privacy and dignity. Staff knew the people they supported well. People had developed good relationships with staff who understood their individual and sometimes complex care and support needs and wishes.

People and a relative said staff were kind. People’s personal information was kept confidential in the services office. People, where possible, and their relatives were involved in discussions and reviews of their, or their family member’s, care. The registered manager told us there had been no complaints; a guide on how to complain was available in a pictorial easy read format. This helped aid people’s understanding.

Staff felt well-supported. Audits were carried out to monitor the service and address any improvements required.

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 25 March 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.