Archived: Alcazar Court

The focus of the inspection was to gather evidence to answer the five questions : is the service safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led?

Is the service safe?

The service was safe because people's support had been carefully planned and staff received comprehensive guidance on how to provide support to everybody who used the service. Risks had also been assessed and fully documented so that staff were aware of all known risks and how to effectively manage these.

The service had effective measures in place to ensure staff adhered to clear guidance on cleanliness and infection control policies and procedures.

People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff who were suitably qualified, skilled and experienced to be able to meet their needs. The service was looking to increase staff knowledge and skills in the support of people with dementia, which was an issue raised by relatives.

Is the service effective?

The service was not fully effective because although people's welfare and support needs were comprehensively met, the service had not considered whether the provision of wheelchair lap belts and/or bed rails constituted a Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) issue. There was therefore no documented evidence of this process having been carried out.

Is the service caring?

The service was caring because people who used the service and staff told us they felt that people were safe.

We observed very positive interactions between staff and people who used the service. Staff who we spoke to were very clear that high standards of support were expected by the service at all times and appeared very focused on ensuring these were delivered.

Managers were committed to delivering a person-centred service which met people's comprehensive needs, as far as this was reasonably possible.

Is the service responsive?

The service was responsive. One person told us that if they pressed their alarm, staff responded to their need for support very quickly.

Relatives of people who used the service said that they could approach managers to discuss issues and they responded positively.

We saw that where complaints were made, these were responded to quickly and resolved where possible.

We saw that senior managers and the registered manager had responded to a recent safeguarding alert by putting in place measures to ensure that similar issues did not re-occur.

Is the service well-led?

The service was well-led. The registered manager and senior managers ensured there were comprehensive systems in place to assess and monitor the quality of service provision.

Managers ensured there were regular meetings with people who used the service where people's views were sought, which in turn fed into the way in which the service was managed and delivered.

Relatives of people who used the service talked positively about their interactions with the registered manager in particular, but also the senior manager responsible for the service.

Staff said that sufficient staff were available to meet people's needs throughout the day. People's needs had been assessed so that their care plans outlined the time that had been allocated to meet their needs at different times of the day. People's personal records including their care plans were accurate, and had been reviewed and updated at regular intervals. Care records gave an explanation of how people's needs were to be met.