Archived: Dean Road ECS

Dean Road ECS is an extra care housing service providing personal care to people. The service provides support to people aged 65 and over. At the time of our inspection there were 24 people using the service. People using the service lived in flats in one purpose-built building.

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.

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

Risk management plans did not always give staff clear guidance to mitigate identified risks to people. People’s ‘as and when required’ medicines were not always recorded in line with good practice. The registered manager took action to address our concerns after we pointed these to them. We have made a recommendation in relation to records management.

Staff followed best practice guidelines regarding COVID-19 and the prevention and control of infection. Recruitment checks undertaken ensured only suitable staff members were employed. There were sufficient numbers of staff deployed to keep people safe. The registered manager learned lessons when things went wrong.

Staff received ongoing training to meet people’s needs. Staff told us they received opportunities to reflect on their work through one-to-one meetings with the registered manager and felt well supported. 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 were treated with dignity, kindness and respect. Staff understood the importance of supporting people to maintain their independence. Staff monitored people’s health and wellbeing and sought medical guidance and support when necessary.

People were all complimentary about the way the scheme was managed and how approachable the office-based managers were. The provider promoted an open and inclusive culture which sought the views of people living, visiting and working at Dean Road ECS. The provider worked in close partnership with a range of local community health and social care professionals and agencies to plan and deliver people’s agreed packages of care and support.

People’s care was planned in line with their preferences. Care plans were regularly reviewed to reflect their changing needs. People were aware of how to raise their concerns and were confident these would be addressed. People were supported to document their end of life wishes if they chose to.

People, their relatives and staff spoke highly of the registered manager. The values of the provider were evident through the management of the service. Audits were undertaken to ensure issues identified were acted on swiftly. People’s views were sought to monitor and improve the service delivery. The registered manager placed importance of working in partnership with stakeholders.

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

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 27 July 2019.

Why we inspected

This service was registered with us on 16 December 2019 under the current provider and this is the first inspection.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.