Comprigney Vean

Updated 21 December 2017

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 inspection took place on 2 December and was announced. We gave the service 3 days’ notice of the inspection site visit because it is small and we needed to be sure that someone would be in. The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector.

Before the inspection the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the PIR and other information we held about the service. This included past reports and notifications. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

We looked around the premises and observed care practices. We spoke with the person living at the service, the registered manager and three members of staff. We also contacted a relative and two external healthcare professionals as part of the inspection process.

Updated 21 December 2017

This unannounced comprehensive inspection took place on 2 December 2017. The last inspection took place on 3 October 2015 when the service were meeting the legal requirements. The service was rated as Good at that time. Following this inspection the service remains Good.

Comprigney Vean 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.

Comprigney Vean is a large detached bungalow and is registered to accommodate two people. At the time of the inspection one person was living at the service. It is part of Green Light PBS Limited, an organisation providing support and care for people with autism living in Cornwall.

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.

There was a registered manager in post. 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.

We met the person living at Comprigney Vean and spent some time talking with them and staff. Staff were respectful and caring in their approach. They knew the person well and had an understanding of their needs and preferences. Staff shared similar interests to the person and were able to support them to take part in a range of meaningful activities.

Identified risks to the person’s safety and well-being were clearly identified and well managed. Staff used risk assessments to enable the person to take part in activities which could be perceived as high risk such as surfing and climbing. Staff were confident about providing support at any time including any period when the person was distressed.

Staff were supported through a system of induction, training, supervision and staff meetings. This meant they developed the necessary skills to carry out their roles. There were opportunities for staff to raise any concerns or ideas about how the service could be developed.

Sequence strips using pictures to indicate the next task or activity, social stories and easy read information were used to support effective communication. The care plan identified the person’s communication needs and this was shared with other agencies when necessary.

Staff understood the Mental Capacity Act and associated Deprivation of Liberty safeguards. Any restrictive practices in place to keep people safe were regularly reviewed to ensure they remained the least restrictive option. The person living at Comprigney Vean was supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.

The registered manager took an active role within the home. Staff told us they were approachable and available for advice and support. There were clear lines of accountability and responsibility within the staff team.

There were effective quality assurance systems in place to monitor the standards of the care provided. Audits were carried out regularly both within the service and at organisational level.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.