Queenscourt

Updated 24 June 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. 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.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in a ‘supported living’ setting, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

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

This inspection was unannounced. Inspection activity started on 18 May 2021 and ended on the same day. We visited the office location on 18 May 2021.

What we did before the 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. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with two members of staff and the registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and three people’s medication administration records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including safety checks, audits, policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data, quality assurance records, policies and procedures and care records. We obtained feedback from three care professionals and we spoke with a relative of a person who used the service.

Updated 24 June 2021

About the service

Queenscourt is a supported living scheme. It provides personal care for people with mental healthcare needs. At the time of this inspection, there were three people using the service. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.

The provider also runs a care home which is adjacent to the supported living unit at 20 Queenscourt.

People’s experience of using this service:

People and their representatives were satisfied with the care provided. People were safe in the service. Risks to people’s health and wellbeing had been assessed. There was detailed guidance for staff on how to keep people safe and minimise risks to people.

People were protected from abuse. Staff had received training on how to safeguard people and were aware of the procedure to follow if they suspected that people were subject to abuse.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People received their prescribed medicines. There were suitable arrangements for the safe administration of medicines. Medicine administration records (MAR) were appropriately completed.

Fire safety arrangements were in place and staff were aware of action to take to safeguard people in the event of a fire.

The service had taken measures to prevent and control the spread of COVID -19 and other infections.

The service provided people with person-centred care. People’s care needs had been carefully assessed prior to them coming to them being accepted for the supported living scheme. Care plans were comprehensive and had been reviewed with people and their representatives.

The service had a policy on ensuring equality and valuing diversity. Staff provided care and support that met people’s diverse and individual preferences.

People participated in some activities within the supported living scheme. However, there is a need to encourage people to review their activities programme and consider starting to go out into the community again.

There was a complaints procedure and people knew how to complain. Complaints recorded had been promptly responded to.

The service was well managed. Management monitored the quality of the services provided via regular audits and checks.

The results of individual surveys indicated that people were satisfied with the care and services provided.

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 is the first comprehensive inspection of the service. At this inspection we have rated the service as Good. This is the first comprehensive inspection since the service was registered in April 2019. We carried out a focused inspection in November 2020. The service was not rated however a breach of regulation was found. 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. At the focused inspection of 27 November 2020 we found risks related to staffing arrangements. The service did not have adequate numbers of staff deployed to meet the needs of people. This was a breach of Regulation 18 (Staffing). At this inspection, we found there were sufficient staff to attend to people’s needs. Care staff had been carefully recruited and pre-employment checks had been carried out. They were well trained and were knowledgeable regarding people’s needs. The overall rating for the service is Good.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.