Background to this inspection
Updated
24 June 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 Care Act 2008.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
This inspection was carried out by two inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
Waterside Court is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
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 a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about 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 eight people who used the service, five relatives and two visitors. We also spoke with 10 staff members, the area manager and the registered manager. We looked at a range of records including seven care plans and risk assessments, medication records and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures, training records and quality assurance systems.
Updated
24 June 2022
About the service
Waterside Court is a residential care home registered to provide care for up to 70 older people, set out over three floors in a purpose built building. Only the ground and first floors were in use at the time of our inspection and there were 23 people living there, some of whom were living with dementia
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People living at Waterside Court were supported to lead purposeful lives, engaging with their families and the local community. This ensured meaningful relationships and people's overall health and wellbeing was maintained.
People had excellent opportunities and access to a variety of activities to prevent social isolation. Social activities met people's individual needs and followed best practice guidance so people could live as full a life as possible. Activities were overseen by a committed, passionate and experienced staff team. The service encouraged and supported people to develop and maintain relationships with people that matter to them.
Staff knew how to identify and report any concerns. The provider had safe recruitment and selection processes in place which incorporated their values.
Risks to people's safety and well-being were managed through a risk management process. There were sufficient staff deployed to meet people's needs. Medicines were managed safely, and people received their medicines as prescribed.
People and relatives told us staff were caring. Staff did all they could to promote people’s independence and we saw examples of this. People received personalised care, tailored to their individual needs and preferences, and staff supported people and their relatives to be involved with decisions relating to their care. People's privacy and dignity was upheld through the approaches taken by staff as well as in relation to the care environment, as people each had access to their own bedrooms with ensuite bathroom facilities.
People had a pleasant well-presented dining experience which offered a variety of appetising food choices available at times that suited people’s preferences. Staff supported people to maintain food and fluid intake, including, through the use of snacks, and making people hot drinks to help them relax and maintain their comfort. People were supported to meet their nutritional needs and complimented the food at the home.
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. Staff had a particularly good understanding of when the principles of the Mental Capacity Act should be applied.
The home was well-led by a registered manager who was committed to improving people’s quality of life. The service had a clear management and staffing structure in place and staff worked well as a team. The provider had effective quality assurance systems in place that included the use of technology to monitor the quality and safety of the service. Staff worked well with external social and health care professionals.
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 19 March 2021 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk