Archived: Towes Court

Towes Court offers domiciliary care and twenty-four-hour emergency cover for up to 40 people in self-contained flats. The accommodation is either rented or shared ownership and is contained in a new building, located in Goring Oxfordshire. The service is part of the Order of St John Care Trust. On the day of our inspection 19 people were receiving a personal care service.

There was a not 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. However, we saw evidence that the post of registered manager had been recruited to.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated good:

The service continued to provide safe care to people. Staff had received training in safeguarding adults and understood their responsibilities to identify and report any concerns. The provider had safe recruitment and selection processes in place, these included completing checks to make sure new staff were safe to work with vulnerable adults.

Medicines were managed safely and people received their medicines as prescribed. People's care plans contained risk assessments which included risks associated with people’s care. There were sufficient staff deployed to meet people's needs.

People continued to receive effective care from staff who had the skills and knowledge to support them. People were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the procedures in the service supported this practice. People were supported to maintain good health.

The service continued to provide support in a caring way. People benefited from caring relationships with staff who treated them with dignity and respect. People were involved in their care and supported to remain independent.

The service continued to be responsive. People received personalised care by staff who understood people's individual needs and preferences. People's changing needs were responded to appropriately.

At our last inspection of OSJCT Towes Court on 11 May 2016 we rated the service as requires improvement in well-led. At this inspection we found the service had improved to good in well-led because, people told us the service was well managed. People knew the managers and staff and spoke positively about them. The service sought people's views and opinions and acted upon them.

The service had established effective systems to assess the quality of care the service provided. Learning was identified and action taken to make improvements which improved people's safety and quality of life.

OSJCT Towes Court is a new service registered with us on the 26 January 2015 and provides extra care housing for up to 40 older people. The office of the domiciliary care agency OSJCT Towes Court is based within the building. The agency provides care and support to people living within OSJCT Towes Court, who have been assessed as requiring extra care or support in their lives. On the day of our inspection 16 people were receiving a personal care service.

The service had a registered manager. 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.

Records relating to people’s care were not always accurate or up to date. Although regular audits were conducted to monitor the quality of service. The system that the registered manager had in place to monitor the day to day running of the service was not always effective. Staff we spoke with gave a varied response about the management of the service.

People told us they were safe. People were supported by staff who could explain what constitutes abuse and what to do in the event of suspecting abuse. Staff had completed safeguarding training and understood their responsibilities.

People received their medicines as prescribed. Where risks to people had been identified robust risk assessments were in place and action had been taken to reduce the risks. Staff were aware of people’s needs and followed guidance to keep them safe.

The service had effective recruitment procedures in place and conducted background checks to ensure staff were suitable for their role. There were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs.

Staff understood the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and applied its principles in their work. The MCA protects the rights of people who may not be able to make particular decisions themselves. Staff had access to effective supervision.

The service sought people’s views and opinions and acted upon them. Relatives told us they were confident they would be listened to and action would be taken if they raised a concern. We saw complaints were dealt with in a compassionate and timely fashion