Archived: Forum Court Limited

Updated 27 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 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.

This inspection took place on 19 September 2016 and was announced.

The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service we needed to be sure that staff would be available to speak with us, and the registered manager or someone in charge would be in.

The inspection team consisted of an adult social care inspector.

Before our inspection we reviewed the information we held about the home. This included the Provider Information Return (PIR). A PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also looked at the statutory notifications and other intelligence which the Care Quality Commission had received about the home.

During the inspection, we spent time with three staff who worked at the service, including the registered manager. We spoke with the person who used the service at length and spent some time with them in their flat.

We looked at the care records for the person using the service, three staff personnel files and records relevant to the quality monitoring of the service.

Updated 27 October 2016

We carried out this inspection of Forum Court on 19 September 2016. This was an announced inspection. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice that we would be coming as the service provided domiciliary care, and we wanted to be sure someone would be available.

Forum Court is an extra care housing complex consisting of 59 privately owned apartments in the centre of Southport. Forum Court is a not for profit organisation that is run by an elected board of directors who also live within Forum Court. The Care Quality Commission regulates the personal care service directly provided by Forum Court for a small number of people who live there. Limited car parking is available to the rear of the building and there are gardens at the front of the building. At the time of our inspection there was one person receiving a domically care service totalling three hours per week.

There was a registered manager in post. 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.

The person told us they felt safe and liked the staff. Staff we spoke to had a good knowledge of safeguarding and how to recognise signs of abuse. The provider had procedures in place which would help keep people who used the service safe from harm. We could see these procedures were discussed as part of the staff’s induction process.

The provider had risk assessments and care plan in place for the person. This contained all relevant information about the needs of the person.

There was a procedure in place should the staff be required to administer medications, however the person in receipt of care at the time did not require this service.

The person told us there were enough suitably trained staff to meet their individual care needs. Staff were only appointed after a thorough recruitment process. The person told us the staff always conducted the visits when they were expected to do so.

The person’s privacy and dignity was upheld. For example, staff would knock on their door and wait to asked in.

Staff monitored the person’s health and welfare needs by documenting when the person had an appointment, this was discussed with the person with their permission.

The registered manager and staff we spoke with were aware of their roles in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and associated legislation.

Staff were trained and skilled in all subjects relating to their job roles, such as safeguarding, first aid and manual handling. Some staff were booked on to do refresher training.

Staff said they benefited from regular one to one supervision and appraisal from their manager.

Quality assurance audits were carried out and for people who used the services of the agency their verbal feedback was sought or they completed satisfaction surveys. .