Archived: Greenfield Court HNHA

Updated 25 January 2018

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 is 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.

Inspection site visit activity started on 22 November and ended on 27 November 2017. It included a visit to the office location on 22 November 2017 to see the registered manager and the provider, to speak with people who used the service and with staff; and to review care records and policies and procedures. We gave the service notice the week before the inspection site visit so people using the service could be asked for their consent to a home visit. After our site visit the expert by experience carried out telephone interviews with people who used the service and relatives to gain their views.

The inspection team comprised one adult social care inspector; a specialist advisor who was a registered nurse with experience of management in health and social care settings; 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.

The inspection was informed by feedback from questionnaires completed by 27 people using services, five relatives and six staff. This led the inspection team to look at infection control and induction training and support for new staff. We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used this information to inform the inspection planning process. We contacted the local authority contracts and commissioning team for their views on the service, but we did not receive any feedback.

During our inspection we spoke in person or by telephone with four people who used the service and three relatives. We spoke with the provider, the registered manager, and with seven members of staff. We spoke with the scheme manager for the housing association, housekeeping staff and with catering staff. We reviewed care plans and associated medicines administration charts for four people, and staff recruitment and training files for four members of staff. We looked at records relating to the management of the service including strategic management meeting minutes, policies and procedures, and the business continuity plan. We observed care and interaction in one communal lounge, one cafe area and the main dining room.

Updated 25 January 2018

The inspection of Greenfield Court HNHA took place between 22 November and 27 November 2017. We gave notice of our site visit to the agency office on the first day of the inspection so people using the service could be asked for their consent to a home visit.

This service is a domiciliary care agency. Greenfield Court HNHA is based in Harrogate. Some people who received support live in bungalows and flats located on the site in Harrogate. Other people live out in the community in their own homes and Greenfield Court HNHA staff visit them to support with personal care.

Greenfield Court Harrogate Neighbours Association is the registered social landlord (housing association) responsible for the specialist ‘extra care’ housing at Greenfield Court. 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. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support service.

Not everyone using Greenfield Court HNHA receives regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided. At the time of this inspection, the service was providing a personal care service to 22 people at the extra care location and 50 people living in their own homes in the community.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good. At this inspection, we found the service remained Good.

The provider was an individual (sole trader) and until recently the provider had also managed the service on a day to day basis. We have asked the provider to provide us with further information with regard to their registration status so that we can make sure we have the correct legal entity registered. We are dealing with this outside the inspection process.

There was a manager in post who had registered with CQC in October 2017. The provider and the registered manager were available and assisted throughout the inspection.

Staff had received training in safeguarding adults and the registered manager understood their responsibilities to identify and report any concerns. Safe recruitment processes were followed to ensure only suitable people were employed.

Medicines were managed safely and people received their medicines as prescribed. We have made a recommendation about the management of some medicines.

Risks to people were assessed and steps taken to reduce risks.

There had been some recent challenges posed by staffing shortages, which people referred to in their feedback to us. The registered manager described the actions in place to improve staff retention.

People received effective care from staff who had the skills and knowledge to support them. People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

People accessed health and social care professionals. People benefited from strong, caring relationships with staff who treated them with dignity and respect.

People spoke positively about the staff and the quality of care they received. They were actively involved in their care and staff supported them to maximise their independence.

People received an individualised service and staff understood and met people's care needs.

Effective management systems were in place to monitor the quality of care provided and to promote people’s safety and welfare.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.