Brewery House

Updated 27 May 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 COVID-19 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 28 April 2021 and was unannounced.

Updated 27 May 2021

Brewery House is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to two younger adults with a learning disability and or autistic spectrum disorder. The care home is a domestic dwelling located within the local community of Halstead. At the time of the inspection there were two people living at the service.

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

We identified a lack of risk assessment and management monitoring in relation to the risk of burns and scalds from hot surfaces such as unguarded radiators and the risk of falls from unrestricted windows. In response to our findings the registered manager took immediate action to rectify these shortfalls. Whilst immediate action had been taken, management monitoring systems for auditing the safety of the service needed to be more robust as they had not identified the risk areas prior to this inspection.

People were protected from abuse. Staff understood how to recognise and report any concerns they had about people's safety and well-being. There was enough staff to keep people safe and provide them with support that met their needs.

Staff were trained, and competency assessed to administer people's medicines safely. Staff had access to relevant training, regular supervision and annual appraisal. This equipped staff with the knowledge and skills they needed to fulfil their roles and meet people’s needs.

Nutritional needs were met. People were supported to access healthcare services if they needed them. Health care needs were closely monitored and any changes to people’s health and wellbeing was responded to in a timely manner.

Staff knew people well, provided personalised care and treated people with dignity and respect. 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 recommended further work to ascertain people’s cultural needs and wishes in the event of sudden death or the need for palliative care support.

Staff demonstrated a good understanding of the people living at the service and created opportunities for maximising their independence and life skills. Staff worked in partnership with other social care and health care professionals to ensure people received the support they needed.

The service consistently 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 30 August 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.