Background to this inspection
Updated
31 March 2017
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 12 January 2017 and was unannounced.
The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector.
Prior to the inspection we looked at the information we had about the service. This information included the statutory notifications that the provider had sent to CQC. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We received a Provider Information Return (PIR). This 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 used this information to assess how the service was performing and to ensure we addressed any potential areas of concern.
We spoke with five people accommodated, one relative, the registered manager, the service quality manager, the deputy manager, two care staff and one of the cooks. We looked at two care records, two recruitment records, medicine administration records, staff rosters and quality assurance information. We contacted a GP practice and health and social care professionals. We also spoke to two social and healthcare professionals that were visiting the service during the inspection.
Updated
31 March 2017
This unannounced comprehensive inspection took place on 12 January 2017.
Church Court is a care home without nursing care for up to 16 older people. On the day we visited 12 people were living there. The home is a converted house and has a passenger lift to reach three floors where people are accommodated. There was a registered manager. 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 supported by sufficient staff but sometimes the deployment of staff could be improved to ensure people were always well supported in the communal areas. The registered manager was accessible and supported staff, people and their relatives through effective communication. People told us they felt safe in the home. Staff knew how to keep people safe and were trained to report any concerns. People were supported by staff that were well trained and had access to training to develop their knowledge.
Individual risk assessments were completed which minimised risk for people helping to keep them safe and as independent as possible. All accidents and incidents were recorded and had sufficient information to ensure preventative measures were identified.
We observed staff responding to people in a calm and compassionate manner consistently demonstrating respect. Staff knew people well and supported them to take part in activities they liked.
Staff were aware of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) to protect people when they needed support for certain decisions in their best interest. Care plans included mental capacity assessments and ‘best interest’ decisions where applicable. Most people made everyday decisions and staff promoted their independence.
Social and healthcare professionals supported people. Medicines were well managed and given safely. Special diets were provided to maintain and improve people’s health and wellbeing. People had a choice of meals and special diets were provided.
Quality assurance checks were completed and examples told us that action plans identified where changes were made to address any shortfalls. People and relatives were asked for their opinion about the service and their comments were taken into account to improve the service.