The Court

Updated 31 July 2019

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

One inspector carried out the inspection.

Service and service type

The Court is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

The service had a manager registered with CQC. 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

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 registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

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. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

Not all the people living at The Court were able to fully share with us their experiences of living at the home. Therefore, we used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. With permission we looked around the service including people’s bedrooms. We spoke with two support staff, the registered manager, deputy manager and regional manager.

We looked at two people’s care records, their medicines records and other records related to the management of the service.

After the inspection

We spoke with one relative and received five questionnaires we asked staff to complete.

Updated 31 July 2019

About the service

The Court is a care home which provides accommodation and support for up to three people living with a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. There were three people living at the service when we visited.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

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

The service had made improvements and introduced new documentation to support its governance arrangements. Effective systems were in place to monitor people’s Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). The registered manager was responsive to people’s needs and promoted an open, inclusive culture at the service.

Systems were in place to ensure the environment was safe. People were protected from abuse. Robust recruitment checks were completed for potential new members of staff. Health and safety checks were regularly conducted and contingency plans were in place to support people in the event of an emergency.

People were supported by a well-trained, experienced and motivated staff team. Staff treated people with dignity and respected their privacy. People were at the centre of the service. The service promoted positive risk taking, independence and empowered and supported people to achieve set goals with positive outcomes.

People were supported to engage in meaningful activities of their choice. Staff supported people and encouraged them to be as independent as possible.

Care plans were person-centred and clearly outlined people's support and care needs. Effective systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service. The service focused on people’s continuous development. People were regularly consulted and involved in all aspects of the service.

A complaints procedure was in place. People and relatives were supported to raise any issues or concerns. Staff told us they were supported by the management team and the provider.

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.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

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 this service was requires improvement (published date 24 May 2018).

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.