Background to this inspection
Updated
22 March 2023
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 1 inspector 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
This service provides personal care 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. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care service.
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.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. 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.
During the inspection. We spoke with 3 people who used the service, 8 relatives, the registered manager, and 2 support staff.
We reviewed a range of records. These included 3 people’s care records, a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits and procedures.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to corroborate evidence found. We looked at audits, care plans, reports and policies.
Updated
22 March 2023
About the service
Ellerbeck Court is an extra care setting which provides personal care to people living in their own flats on one site that also has communal areas. Not everyone who lives at Ellerbeck Court received personal care. Care Quality Commission 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. At the time of the inspection 56 people were living in the flats, the service was supporting 25 people and all 25 were receiving personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
We received positive feedback from people who told us they were happy with the support they received at Ellerbeck Court. People received person-centred care and staff knew people well. People had care plans in place to reflect their preferences and needs and risk assessments to minimise risks. People told us staff were respectful and kind.
Peoples health and well-being needs were supported from the staff team who, with the registered manager worked in partnership with other healthcare professionals. There were systems in place for communicating with people, their relatives and staff to ensure they were fully involved.
Medicines were managed well, safely administered and recorded accurately. Individualised risk assessments were in place. Staff were confident they would raise concerns to safeguard people. Robust recruitment and selection procedures ensured suitable staff were employed.
Staff completed a range of training to meet people’s needs including infection prevention control related training. Additional competency checks and spot checks were carried out by the registered manager to check the staffs’ care practice.
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.
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with CQC on 21 October 2021 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned first rating inspection. We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all 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.