Harry Priestley House

Updated 19 November 2020

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 care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 5 November 2020 and was announced.

Updated 19 November 2020

Harry Priestley 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.

Harry Priestley House is in Thorne, near Doncaster. It is registered to provide accommodation for up to 12 people who require personal care. The home specialises in supporting adults with learning disabilities. At the time of our inspection there were 12 people living in the home.

This inspection took place on 3 September 2018 and was unannounced. Harry Priestley House was last inspected in February 2017 when we rated the service as good. In September 2017 the service was re-registered with the Care Quality Commission. The change in registration was the result of changes within the provider's organisation. There had been a consolidation process amongst all the charitable arms of the Masonic Foundation and all the social care services now come under the Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution Care Company. The nominated individual remains the same. This was the first comprehensive inspection under this registration. We found the service was good.

You can read the report from our last inspections, by selecting the 'all reports' link for 'Harry Priestley House' on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

The service had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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.

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.

This was a well-established service which was well managed and run in the interest of people using it. Their needs and wishes were met and the staff worked hard to create a homely atmosphere and engage people both in the home and in the wider community.

Staff were aware of how to recognise and report safeguarding concerns to help ensure people were protected as far as possible from abuse.

People who were supported with medicine and their relatives told us they were confident medicines were administered and recorded properly, which helped to promote good health for people.

People benefited because they were supported by staff that had been trained to understand how to provide effective care that met their needs. Staff were supported through a regular programme of training, supervision and appraisal.

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

People were supported to have sufficient food and drink and were involved in the decisions about the food they ate. Staff were familiar with people’s personal preferences, likes and dislikes.

People were supported to maintain good health and staff encouraged people to have a healthy lifestyle and participate in regular exercise.

People were supported by a highly committed, kind, respectful and caring staff team.

There was a regular staff team who knew people well and everyone involved with the service showed mutual respect. We saw staff treating people with dignity and compassion and being patient and considerate when providing different elements of care.

People were involved in their care and support and were encouraged to be active in the running of the service.

People's health needs were monitored well and staff were responsive in seeking treatment and maintaining regular health appointments.

The registered manager was well thought of and respected by people involved with the service. People told us the registered manager made herself available to look at any issues and listen to their comments.

The registered manager sought people who used the service, relatives and staff's feedback and welcomed their suggestions for improvement.