Sunflower House

Updated 24 September 2021

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 so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was completed by one inspector.

Service and service type

EAM House 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. This means that they and the provider 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 24 hours’ 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 be in to support the inspection.

What we did before 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 this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with one person who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, nurse, senior care workers and care workers.

Most people living at EAM House were not able to communicate verbally with us. We made observations of the interactions between people and the care staff throughout our inspection to help us understand their experience of their care.

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 and quality assurance records. We spoke with three relatives and two night staff by telephone. We contacted a professional who regularly works with the service.

Updated 24 September 2021

About the service

EAM House is a care home providing personal and nursing care to five young adults with a learning disability or autism and complex health needs. The service also provides short breaks care (respite), which is planned, or emergency care provided to a person in order to provide temporary relief to family members who are caring for that person. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the respite service was not being offered at the time of our inspection. The home can accommodate up to eight people at a time.

The service is located in a large detached house within its own grounds. All bedrooms are single with communal bathrooms, lounge and dining areas. A conservatory that looks out onto well maintained and accessible gardens. The service has a sensory room on the premises which is separate from the main building.

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

Relatives were positive about the support provided by EAM House. They said the staff team met the complex health needs of their relatives and the communication with the home was good. Relatives were involved in the planning of their relative's care and support.

Person centred care plans and risk assessments provided guidance for the support people required, including when they may become agitated. These were reviewed each month. People received their medicines as prescribed.

Staff said they enjoyed working at EAM House, saying the management team were approachable and supportive. There were enough staff on duty and they received the training and support needed to meet people’s assessed needs. Staff were safely recruited.

The staff team worked in partnership with other professionals, including social workers, medical professionals and the community learning disability team. People’s health and nutritional needs were being met.

The home was clean throughout and the current government COVID-19 guidelines were being followed.

A quality assurance system was in place, with actions taken where issues were found. Incidents were recorded and reviewed to reduce the chance of a re-occurrence.

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.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. Staff knew people’s needs well and sort new activities people could participate in within their local community. Care and support plans were person-centred. Staff knew how to promote people’s privacy dignity and independence. Communication with people’s relatives was good.

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 19 October 2018).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

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.