Archived: ExtraCare Charitable Trust Verona Court

Updated 16 August 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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

ExtraCare Charitable Trust Verona Court is a service which provides domiciliary care services. This is provided in sheltered flat tenancies situated in a single building facility. The facility offers aspects of communal living.

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 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 [and support] 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

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection. Inspection activity started and ended on 19 July 2019.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 reviewed other information we held about the service. We used this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with four people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager, a team leader and a care support worker.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 16 August 2019

About the service

Verona Court provides personal care for people aged 55 and over. People receive care and support in their own individual flats in a purpose built complex. There are communal facilities including a dining room and activity room. At the time of our inspection, there were 31 people receiving personal care and support.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. 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 and what we found

People were protected from the risk of harm and abuse as staff knew how to identify and report safeguarding concerns. People’s risks were assessed and managed in a safe way by a staff group who knew people well. Staff promoted the prevention and control of infection by wearing correct equipment and adhering to policy and procedures. Medicines were managed safely.

People’s needs were assessed and planned for in line with legislation and good practice guidelines. People received support to maintain a balanced diet and had access to healthcare professionals and services as required.

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 were kind and caring and treated people in a way that promoted their independence, privacy and dignity.

Care and support was personalised to meet the needs, wishes and preferences of people. People were supported to take part in activities that were tailored to people’s interests. People knew how to make a complaint if necessary.

There was a registered manager in post who was committed to meeting the service values through improving and sustaining good practice. The registered manager worked well with other agencies and professionals to provide quality care and support for people.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (report published 6 July 2016).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for ExtraCare Charitable Trust Verona Court on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

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.