Background to this inspection
Updated
6 January 2022
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.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.
Service and service type
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
This inspection was unannounced. Inspection activity started on 25 November 2021 and ended on 1 December 2021. We visited the office location on 25 November 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from people and their relatives. 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 used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with four people who used the service, one relative, eight staff members including care workers, a senior care worker, the registered manager and the regional manager. We reviewed a range of records. This included five care plans and multiple medication records. We looked at four staff records in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and audits were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at audits and risk management plans. We contacted two professionals who regularly visit the service.
Updated
6 January 2022
About the service
Bankhouse is a specialist extra care housing service providing personal care and support to 38, people 27 of whom receive personal care in a 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. 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
Although audits identified issues in relation to record keeping, these had not always been acted on in a timely manner. We have made a recommendation about the records management at the service. People did not always receive a service that was safe. Staff were not always given robust guidance to follow to keep people safe.
People’s medicines were administered as intended by the prescribing G.P. Staff were aware of how to report safeguarding incidents and received safeguarding training. Sufficient numbers of suitably vetted staff were deployed to keep people safe. The provider took steps to ensure lessons were learned when things went wrong.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
People spoke positively about the management of the service. Records showed the registered manager was keen to work in partnership with other stakeholders to drive improvements. People’s views were sought.
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 of this service was good (published 6 September 2018).
Why we inspected
We received concerns in relation to COVID-19 practices and staffing levels. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.
We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.
The overall rating for the service has changed from Good to Requires improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
While we did not find concerns around COVID-19 practices and staffing levels we did find evidence that the provider needs to make improvements in other areas. Please see the safe and well-led sections of the report.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Bankhouse 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.