Background to this inspection
Updated
27 February 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 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 02 February 2021 and was unannounced.
Updated
27 February 2021
About the service
Walsingham Support is a residential care home providing personal care for six people with a learning disability at the time of the inspection.
Walsingham Support accommodates six people in an adapted building. Each person has an individual bedroom and communal space which consists of kitchen, lounge, dining room, bathroom, conservatory and laundry room. There is an on-site office where the registered manager is based.
The service has been developed and designed in line with most of the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance, this was based on the building as well as the engagement of the community. Registering the Right Support 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.
There were deliberately no identifying signs, intercom, cameras, industrial bins or anything else outside to indicate it was a care home, however the building is situated on a hospital site. Staff were also discouraged from wearing anything that suggested they were care staff when coming and going with people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were not always safe and were at risk of harm. This was in relation to poor moving and handing as well as poor practice relating to people who were at risk of aspiration.
Risk assessments did not reflect all risks identified and did not detail how staff could support the person safely.
There was a quality assurance system in place however, these systems did not identify the risks identified at the time of the inspection.
As part of the inspection we requested information from the registered manager relating to governance, supervisions and training records, however these were not produced. Although, staff felt they had the training and support needed for their role. Robust recruitment and pre-employment checks were completed for all staff.
People were encouraged to go to a centre where they could be involved in meeting people. People’s care plans identified likes and dislikes. When observing the support and speaking to staff not everyone living at the service were encouraged to be involved in activities which would encourage their independence. At the time of the inspection we had one example of a person helping to empty the bins.
People and relatives said they felt the staff were always kind, caring and they felt safe in the home. Observations showed that staff were attentive to people’s needs.
The provider had accessible information which was provided for all their services, this was an easy read guide. Due to the people’s communication and support needs not all people living in the home would be able to understand this.
We recommended the service looks at developing different ways to communicate with people, so they are able to make choices or to be involved in decision making.
The registered manager ensured there was regular involvement from health professionals.
People were not always supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives, however staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
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 14 October 2016).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Walsingham Support on our website at www.cqc.org.uk
Enforcement
We have identified breaches in relation to safe care and treatment for people being supported and a breach in relation to good governance at this inspection.
Please see the actions we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.
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.