Background to this inspection
Updated
8 January 2020
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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
This consisted of one 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 service.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built accommodation. 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 the provider is legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
This inspection visit was unannounced. Inspection activity started on 30 September 2019 and ended 16 October 2019. We visited the office location on 30 September 2019 and 16 October 2019.
What we did
Before the inspection, we looked at information we held about the service including notifications sent to us. The provider was 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. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with seven people using the service and one relative. We spoke with the registered manager and three care workers.
We looked at seven care records and seven medicine administration records (MARs). We looked at five staff records and other documents relating to the management of the service. We also completed general observations of the service.
After the inspection we continued to seek clarification from the provider to corroborate evidence found. We looked at training, audits, reports and policies records. We received feedback from two health and social care professionals.
Updated
8 January 2020
About the service
Housing 21 – Cinnamon Court provides care and support to adults living in specialist 'extra care' housing. At the time of the inspection, 40 people aged 55 and over were living at the service and receiving personal care. The service can support up to 40 people. People live in self-contained flats across three floors of the service in the London Borough of Lewisham.
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
The provider’s safeguarding procedures were followed by staff to protect people from the risk of abuse. Any allegations of abuse were referred to the local authority safeguarding team for investigation. People said staff treated them with kindness, were helpful and provided care in a compassionate way.
People were supported with the administration of their medicines as prescribed. Medicines administration records were completed as required and audited to ensure these were completed accurately.
People had risks identified and managed by staff. Risk assessments and management plans guided staff to reduce these risks. Assessments and reviews of people’s care took place, but some people said they were not involved in this process.
People had meals that met their nutritional needs and reflected their choices. There were enough staff to meet people’s individual care and support needs.
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 provider’s complaints process was available so people could make a complaint if they were unhappy with an aspect of their care. People and staff were asked for their views on the service. The feedback was positive and demonstrated that the registered manager was approachable and supportive to them.
We have made one recommendation about involving people in decisions about their care.
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 (Last report published on 10 May 2017).
Why we inspected:
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up:
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.