Background to this inspection
Updated
11 October 2016
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
This inspection was carried out by one inspector on 30 June 2016 and was unannounced.
Before our inspection, the acting manager completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks for some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
Other information we looked at about the service included any statutory notifications. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law.
During this inspection we met and spoke with 10 people who were living in the home, the acting manager, four members of care staff and the chef. We looked at the care records for four people and a selection of medical and health related records for four people.
We also looked at the records for two members of staff in respect of training, supervision, appraisals and recruitment and a selection of records that related to the management and day to day running of the service.
Updated
11 October 2016
Oliver Court is a residential home that provides care, support and accommodation for up to 24 people who have mental health support needs. At the time of our inspection there were 24 people living in the home.
The service has a registered manager but an acting manager has been appointed to cover while the registered manager is on long term leave. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People were safe and lived in a safe environment because staff knew how to recognise signs of possible abuse and knew the correct procedures for reporting concerns. In addition, there were enough well trained staff to support people and appropriate recruitment checks were carried out before staff began working in the home. The premises were well maintained and any safety issues were rectified promptly.
Identified risks to people’s safety were recorded on an individual basis and there was guidance for staff to be able to know how to support people safely and effectively. Medicines were managed and administered safely in the home and people received their medicines as prescribed.
People were supported effectively by staff who were skilled and knowledgeable in their work and all new members of staff completed an induction. Staff were supported well by the acting manager and the management team as a whole.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS), and to report on what we find. The acting manager understood the requirements of the MCA.
People had enough to eat and drink and enjoyed their meals. If needed, people’s intake of food and drinks would be monitored and recorded. Prompt action and timely referrals were made to relevant healthcare professionals when any needs or concerns were identified.
Staff in the home were caring and attentive. People were treated with respect and staff preserved people’s dignity. Visitors were welcome and people were encouraged and supported to be as independent as possible. People were also able to follow pastimes or hobbies of their choice.
Assessments were completed prior to admission, to ensure people’s needs could be met. People were involved in planning their care and received care and support that was individual to their needs. Risk assessments detailed what action was required or had been carried out to remove or minimise any identified risks.
People were able to voice their concerns or make a complaint if needed and were listened to with appropriate responses and action taken where possible.
The service was well run and people’s needs were being met appropriately. Communication between the acting manager, staff, people living in the home and visitors was frequent and effective.
There were a number of systems in place in order to ensure the quality of the service provided was regularly monitored and regular audits were carried out by the acting manager in order to identify any areas that needed improvement.