Archived: Suffolk House

Updated 1 June 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 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 was carried out by one Inspector.

Service and service type

Suffolk House is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Suffolk House 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 service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

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

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spent time observing people and the interactions between staff and people. We spoke with five staff, including registered manager, team leader and support staff. We spoke with one professional who was involved in the care of the service users.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with two professionals who regularly visit the service.

Updated 1 June 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

Suffolk is a residential care home providing personal care to two people at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to two people.

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

Right Support

The provider did not always ensure the service was safe and well-maintained.

Staff did not always support people to reduce the risk of the spread of infection. Staff did not wear appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).

Staff supported people to have maximum possible choice, control, to be independent and they had control over their own lives. People were supported by staff to pursue their interests.

Staff enabled people to access specialist health and social care support in the community.

Staff supported people with their medicines in a way that promoted their independence and achieved the best possible health outcomes.

Right Care

People received kind and compassionate care. Staff protected and respected people’s privacy and dignity. They understood and responded to people’s individual needs.

Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. The service worked well with other agencies to do so. However, we found that not all staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse.

The provider did not ensure all staff working with people were appropriately trained to meet people’s needs and keep them safe.

People could communicate with staff and understood information given to them because staff supported them consistently and understood their individual communication needs. Further consideration needed to how individual people communicated, which would enable people to have a wider choice in all aspects of their life and on different topics.

People’s care and support plans reflected their needs and this promoted their wellbeing and enjoyment of life. Although some of the language within the care plans was not always respectful and did not always reflect the least restrictive measures to people’s freedom.

Right culture

People’s quality of support was not always enhanced by the providers quality assurance systems in place. Actions were not always documented, and it was unclear if these were completed. This had an impact on people’s care.

People were supported by staff who understood best practice in relation to supporting people with a learning disability, however there were areas of improvement needed in relation to training and ensuring staff had the right skills.

People and those important to them, were involved in planning their care, although they felt that at times the provider did not offer consistent communication.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 29 January 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support, Right care, Right culture.

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.