The Old Registry

Updated 23 December 2022

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked 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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection, we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

The Old Registry is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. The Old Registry is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually. We reviewed the action plan the provider sent us. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During our inspection

We spoke with the registered manager, 4 people who used the service, the area manager, the maintenance person and 2 members of staff. We reviewed a range of records. This included 3 people’s care records and multiple medicines records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures, audits, staff training and minutes of meeting.

We were able to get limited views from people only due to their needs. We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not speak with us. Following the inspection, we continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We spoke with 4 relatives to obtain their views of the service. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to corroborate evidence found.

Updated 23 December 2022

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

The Old Registry is a residential care home, registered to provide care and support for up to 9 adults with learning disabilities in 1 adapted building. At the time of inspection 8 people were using the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Right Support

People and relatives told us that the service was good and that they could speak with the registered manager as and when they wanted. One relative told us, “It is a very nice home, staff are lovely and the manager is very welcoming.” There were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs and recruitment processes were safe. The provider had a system in place to record and monitor accidents and incidents. They had links with the wider community in order to help ensure a joined up approach to people’s support.

Right Care

Risks to people were assessed by the registered manager and management plans were in place where risks were identified. The provider had suitable arrangements for the management of medicines. People were protected from the risks associated with the spread of infection. There were systems in place for people and their relatives to give feedback on the quality of the service being provided. Staff had access to a range of policies and procedures to guide them in their roles.

Right culture

The provider had safeguarding policies and procedures in relation to safeguarding people. Staff understood what abuse was and the actions to take if a person using the service was being abused. People told us they felt safe at the service. There was an open and inclusive culture in the service, with staff, people, relatives and other external professionals encouraged to help improve the service provided to people. Staff had a good understanding of the ethos of the service and were clear about their responsibilities.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

At the last inspection the service was rated requires improvement (published 4 February 2020) and there were breaches of Regulation 12 (safe care and treatment), Regulation 15 (Premises and equipment), and, Regulation 17 (good governance). The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.