Topaz House

Updated 6 July 2019

The inspection: 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 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 on both days of the inspection.

The service had a manager registered with CQC. 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.

Service and service type: The service is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at on this inspection.

Notice of inspection: The inspection was unannounced.

What we did: We looked at information sent to us since the last inspection such as notifications about accidents and safeguarding alerts. Providers are required to send us key information about their service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

We contacted the local authority commissioning and safeguarding teams and the local Healthwatch England. Healthwatch England are an independent organisation who listen to people’s views about local services and drive improvement by sharing those views with organisations who commission, deliver and regulate health and social care services. We also sought feedback from professionals who worked with the service.

We spoke with one person using the service, two members of staff and the registered manager. Following the inspection, we spoke with a health and social care professional.

We reviewed a range of documents. This included one person’s care and medicine records. We looked at two staff recruitment and supervision records and documents relating to the management of the service and policies and procedures developed and implemented by the provider.

Updated 6 July 2019

About the service: Topaz House is a care home providing personal care and accommodation and treatment of disease, disorder or injury for up to four people, who may be living with learning disabilities and mental health conditions. At the time of the inspection one person was using the service.

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.

People’s experience of using this service: The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support in the following ways; people's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

Maintenance issues were not always reported to ensure these were addressed promptly. This was rectified during inspection.

Systems of governance and oversight were not sufficiently robust to have identified the issues we found in relation to maintenance. We made a recommendation about governance and oversight in the report.

Appropriate checks to ensure the service and equipment was safe for people were completed.

The environment was warm, welcoming, clean and free from malodours. People had personalised rooms.

Staff had appropriate skills and knowledge to deliver care and support people in a person-centred way. Staff recruitment was safe and staff understood how to keep people safe. Staff could recognise and report any safeguarding concerns if they suspected abuse.

Risks to people were well managed. Medicines were managed safely. Accidents and incidents were monitored to identify and address any patterns or trends to mitigate risks.

There was a wide range of opportunities for people to engage in activities and follow hobbies and interests.

People were positive about the staff and told us that their privacy and dignity was promoted.

Care records contained information about people's needs and risks. Preferences and choices were considered and reflected within records.

People were involved in meal preparation and had access to a varied balanced diet. Staff monitored people’s weights and worked with healthcare professionals to make sure people received medical attention when needed.

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

People and staff spoke positively about the registered manager and felt able to raise concerns and were confident that these would be addressed. Staff told us they were well supported by the registered manager and management team.

People using the service and staff had the opportunity to feedback about the service. There was a system in place to respond to any concerns.

Rating at the last inspection: Good (published June 2017).

Why we inspected: This was a scheduled inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission website at www.cqc.org.uk