Glebelands

Updated 2 October 2021

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.

As part of this inspection we also looked at the provider’s infection control arrangements, so we could understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by an inspector and an Expert by Experience. Experts by Experience are people who have personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

This service is a specialist 'extra care' housing scheme. 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 the personal care and support people received.

The service no longer had a manager registered with the CQC. The new manager who has been in operational day-to-day charge of the scheme since August 2021, is in the process of applying to be registered with us. The registered provider will be legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because we needed to be sure the office-based managers would all be available for us to speak with during our inspection. This two-day inspection started on 9 September 21 when we visited the schemes offices and ended on 13 September 21.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed all the information we had received about this 'extra care' housing scheme. 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 this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke in-person to the new manager and two support workers.

We looked at a range of records, including four people’s care plans, ten medication administration charts and various other documents that related to the overall management and governance of the scheme.

Following the inspection

We received telephone and email feedback about Glebelands from three people who lived there, five relatives and two community health care professionals, which included a GP and a nurse.

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We requested the provider send us additional evidence after our inspection in relation to staff training.

Updated 2 October 2021

About the service

Glebelands is an 'extra care' housing scheme that provides personal care and support to people living in their own flats in a single multi-occupancy building.

The single adapted building comprises of 32 self-contained flats which are managed by the London Borough of Merton. At the time of our inspection, 23 people aged 55 and over were receiving personal care and support at the scheme. The 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.

People’s experience of using this service

People told us they were satisfied with the overall quality of the care and support they received at Glebelands. Typical feedback included, “The service I’ve received here since moving in has been great”, “The manager is brilliant and the staff are all very friendly and polite” and “The carers know how to look after me and keep me safe”.

At our last inspection the provider had failed to ensure their governance systems were operated effectively. At this inspection we found the provider had improved how they managed their oversight and scrutiny arrangements. This meant the provider was no longer in breach of regulations. The new manager recognised the importance of learning lessons when things went wrong and were keen to continuously improve the service.

People were cared for and supported by staff who knew how to manage risks they might face. However, we have signposted the provider to guidance developed by a reputable resource to help them improve their fire safety arrangements.

People continued to be kept safe and protected against the risk of avoidable harm and abuse. Staff followed current best practice guidelines regarding the prevention and control of infection including those associated with COVID-19. People received continuity of care from support workers who were familiar with their needs and wishes, and whose fitness to work in an adult social care setting had been thoroughly checked. Medicines were well-organised and people received their prescribed medicines as and when they should.

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 Glebelands. 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.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at the last inspection

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 6th April 2020).

Why we inspected

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 3 and 5 March 2020. A breach of legal requirements was found at that time. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve their governance systems.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has introduced focused/targeted inspections to follow up on previous breaches and to check specific concerns.

We undertook this announced focused inspection to check the provider had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions Safe, Responsive and Well-led where we previously identified issues.

As we only looked at part of the Responsive key question, we cannot change the previous good rating. In addition, the ratings from the previous inspection for the key questions Effective and Caring, which were not looked at on this occasion, will also remain unchanged. All these unchanged ratings were used in calculating the new overall rating for the service following this inspection, which has now improved from requires improvement to good.

Follow up

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