Summer Cottage

Updated 7 March 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.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector

Service and service type

Summer Cottage is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. The registered manager is also one of the providers. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service five days’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would available to support the inspection. We also wanted to be sure people would be at home so that we could meet them.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spent three days inspecting three of the four services run by the providers – Palace Farm, Summer Cottage and Sunset Cottage. We looked at the administrative and management processes that covered each of the four services run by the providers, including Lynwood (which was not inspected at this time). The staff team cover all four of the services and therefore some parts of this report are duplicated in the reports for Palace Farm and Sunset Cottage. However, the lives and experiences of the people living in each service were different and unique, and their views are reflected in each report.

We spoke with two people who lived in Summer Cottage. We spoke with the providers, their consultant, two administration staff, two heads of care and seven members of staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two 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, staff rotas and quality assurance records. We spoke with two relatives on the telephone and we received e mails from six members of staff.

Updated 7 March 2020

About the service

Summer Cottage is a residential care home providing personal care for up to two people with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorders. At the time of this inspection there were two people living there. The property is a bungalow on a residential housing estate on the edge of Chudleigh. There are no outward signs that it is a care home.

Summer Cottage is registered under the provider name of Dalskats Limited and operates under a brand name of "Home Orchard, along with three other local services. The three other services and Summer Cottage share some administrative facilities, records and management systems, and are all located within approximately 400 yards of each other. The services work closely together; staff work between the services by agreement and people living in each service mix socially and share some day activities.

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.

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 living at Summer Cottage enjoyed active and fulfilling lives. They were able to use the facilities in the grounds of Palace Farm nearby where they could participate in activities such as gardening, bee keeping, animal care, games, arts and crafts. Palace Farm is a smallholding which was set up for people with learning disabilities who live in the four homes run by the provider. People told us about enjoyed activities in the local community such as clubs, walking groups and meeting friends. A member of staff said, “If a resident has an interest it is actively encouraged”.

There was a stable, happy and well-trained staff group. There were enough staff to support each person in their daily activities. Care was taken when recruiting staff to ensure new staff were entirely suitable for the job. People were involved in choosing new staff. A relative said, “Staff know her well. They can recognise the signs of any upset”. Another relative said, “The staff very good. I am happy with the support. They know her very well - what makes her tick”.

People were given help and encouragement by staff to keep their home clean. The bungalow was well maintained and safe. People were involved and consulted in all aspects of the home. Each person’s bedroom was decorated and furnished to reflect their interests and preferences. Risk assessments had been carried out on the environment, equipment, and on people’s health, wellbeing and daily activities. Support plans explained each person’s health and personal care needs and how they wanted to be supported.

People were supported to eat a healthy diet. They used eggs, fruit, vegetables and honey from the gardens at Palace Farm along with other ingredients from local shops. People told us how they chose their own meals and helped to prepare them.

The service was well-led. People, staff and relatives praised the providers and management team for their caring ethos. A member of staff told us, “(The provider’s) ethos is good. Independence, dignity and respect. (The providers) are always looking to improve. They want the best for everyone." There were systems in place to ensure the service was well run. The providers sought the views of people living there, staff and relatives through questionnaires, meetings, supervisions and reviews. People, staff and relatives were involved and consulted about all areas of the home and care provided.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported support them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

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.

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 22 September 2017)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.