Tresleigh

Updated 16 July 2021

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

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 team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type

Tresleigh is a 'care home'. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at on this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours’ 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 the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We met with all four people living at the service and staff supported us to communicate with them. We spoke with the registered and deputy managers, four care staff and a behaviour analyst (who was based at the service).

We reviewed two people’s care records. We looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies, procedures and staff training and recruitment records.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We reviewed the additional documentation we had requested from the registered manager. We spoke with five healthcare professionals who worked with the service, three relatives and five care staff.

Updated 16 July 2021

About the service

Tresleigh is a residential care home that provides personal care for up to four people who have autistic spectrum disorders. There were four people living at the service at the time of our inspection. The service is part of the Green Light group which run several similar services throughout Cornwall, for people living on the autistic spectrum.

The service is situated in the centre of a village with access to the local community. The premises comprise of four self-contained flats. The outside space is divided into secure garden and courtyard areas, which people can either share or use separately depending on their wishes and needs.

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

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

This service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

The Right support:

The model of care and setting maximised people’s choice, control and independence. Staff supported people to make choices about their daily lives and engage in activities, that were tailored to their individual needs and promoted their independence. Staff were highly motivated and skilled at using their knowledge of people’s preferences to encourage and motivate people to try new things. Staff understood the importance of social inclusion and were creative in developing ways people could be engaged in the local community. People were supported to maintain and develop relationships.

Right care:

People received good quality person-centred care that promoted their dignity, privacy and human rights. There was a strong person-centred culture within the staff team. Positive behaviour support plans had been developed for people, to understand the reasons for their behaviour, and provide guidance for staff to ensure consistent approaches were used when supporting people. This pro-active approach had reduced the number of incidents, of behaviour that challenged the service, and the need for restrictive interventions. Staff knew people well and demonstrated an excellent understanding of people’s individual care, behavioural and communication needs. This helped ensure people people’s views were heard and their diverse needs met.

Right culture:

People lived in a service where the ethos, values, and attitudes of management and care staff ensured people led confident, inclusive and empowered lives. Staff created an environment that inspired people to understand and achieve their goals and ambitions.

The service significantly improved people's quality of life and well-being. People were supported to stay fit and healthy and their medicines were managed safely. Staff supported people with weight loss plans and to maintain a healthy diet. Extensive desensitisation programmes had been put in place to support people to access medical treatment, such as scans, blood tests and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Staff’s in-depth knowledge of how people communicated ensured people had maximum control over their lives and how they spent their time. Care and behaviour support plans were accurate and kept under regular review, with the involvement of the person and their family. They provided staff with comprehensive guidance to ensure people’s needs were met. Risks were identified and staff had clear instructions to help them support people to reduce the risk of avoidable harm.

Staff were recruited safely. Staff were supported by a system of induction, training, supervisions, appraisals and staff meetings. Staff were appropriately trained, and their competency regularly checked, to ensure people’s complex needs were met.

Cleaning and infection control procedures had been updated in line with COVID-19 guidance to help protect people, visitors and staff from the risk of infection. Government guidance about COVID-19 testing for people, staff and visitors was being followed.

People’s relatives and staff told us management were approachable and they listened to them when they had any concerns or ideas. All feedback was used to make continuous improvements to the service.

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

This service was registered with us on 12/07/2019 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned 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 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.