Archived: The Orchard

Updated 13 May 2015

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 unannounced inspection took place on 20 and 22 January 2015 and was carried out by one inspector.

We spoke with people who used the service and their family members. We did this so we could obtain their views about the quality of care provided at the service. We also reviewed the data we held about the service, including statutory notifications that the provider had sent us. A statutory notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

During the inspection we undertook general observations in communal areas and we spoke with four people who lived at the home. We also spoke with friends and two relatives of people who used the service. We reviewed the care records of three people to see how people were encouraged and supported to carry out their daily routines. We spoke with eight members of staff including two managers and six care staff.

Updated 13 May 2015

This unannounced inspection took place on 20 and 22 January 2015. The Orchard is registered to provide accommodation and personal care for up to five people, some of whom may have a mental health diagnosis. There were five people living at the home at the time of this inspection.

When we inspected the home on 11 February 2014 we asked the provider to take action to improve record keeping and this action has been completed.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.

People who used the service were well looked after by a staff team that had an in-depth understanding of how people wanted to be supported. Staff encouraged people to be as independent as possible and to make choices in their day to day life. Staff treated people with dignity and respect.

Staff were knowledgeable about the risks of abuse and the reporting procedures to follow if they wanted to raise any concerns. There had been some challenges in protecting people from the behaviours of others and a range of strategies were implemented to minimise the impact on people living in the home. We found there was sufficient staff available most of the time to meet people’s individual care and support needs. Safe and effective recruitment practices were followed.

The procedures to manage risks associated with the administration of medicines were followed by staff working at the service. There were suitable arrangements for the safe storage, management and disposal of medicines.

People were supported to have sufficient to eat and drink to maintain a balanced diet and food choices were plentiful. Where there were concerns of potential malnutrition, specialist advice had been sought.

The manager had knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards legislation, they knew how to make appropriate referrals to restrict peoples liberty and ensured that people’s rights were protected.

Staff received induction, training and regular supervision and appraisal which enabled them to carry out their jobs effectively. The arrangements for social activities, met people’s individual needs.

There was a system in place to monitor the quality of the service and action had been taken when necessary to make any improvements.

Staff understood their role and had confidence in the way the service was managed.