Pears Court

Updated 2 September 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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. The accommodation is bought or rented and is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. Care Quality Commission (CQC) does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support service.

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 not a registered manager in post. However, the manager was in the process of registering with the CQC.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 6 July 2022 and ended on 7 July 2022. We visited the location’s office on both days.

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 (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We reviewed a range of records which related to people's individual care and the running of the service. These records included two care records, three staff personnel records, policies and procedures relating to the management and quality monitoring of the service.

We spoke with two people who received the regulated activity and five additional people who also lived in the service. We spoke with six members of staff including the manager and operation manager. We contacted one social care professional for their views of Pears Court, but at the time of the completion of this inspection report, had not received a response.

Updated 2 September 2022

About the service

Pears Court is an extra care scheme which provides people with long-term placements in their own homes and flats. Pears Court comprises 48 one and two-bedroom apartments to rent set in beautiful countryside on the Stanmore Hertfordshire borders. During the day of our inspection two people received the regulated activity personal care.

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

Systems were in place to protect people from harm and abuse. These included safeguarding policies and appropriate training for staff. Personalised risk assessments helped keep people safe and supported their independence. Safe recruitment procedures were complied with. The suitability of staff was assessed before they were recruited to support people using the service. Suitable infection control practices helped to prevent and control the spread of infections including COVID-19.

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 consistent care from regular care staff who had a good understanding of their care needs and preferences. Care staff were punctual and stayed the agreed amount of time. People received an assessment of their needs and preferences. Care plans developed from these assessments provided the information and guidance staff required to ensure people’s individual needs were met in the way they wanted. Care plans were person centred. Staff received appropriate training to carry out their role effectively.

People received person-centred care based on their individual needs, choices and preferences. Staff who supported them were aware of their individual preferences and were knowledgeable about people's needs and how these should be met. Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect and spent time getting to know them. Care plans reflected people's likes, dislikes and preferences. There were a variety of activities available for people to engage with.

Quality checks monitored the care and support provided to people so that improvements to the service were made when deficiencies were found.

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 service was registered with us on 26 March 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned comprehensive inspection because the service was currently unrated.

Follow up

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