Housing 21 - Swallowdale

Updated 19 May 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.

This inspection took place on 12 April 2018 and was unannounced which meant no one at the service knew we were coming. The inspection was undertaken by two adult social care inspectors.

Before the inspection the provider completed a Provider Information Return [PIR]. 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 received the completed document prior to our visit and reviewed the content to help focus our planning and determine what areas we needed to look at during our inspection.

We also reviewed other information we held about the service including statutory notifications. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the registered provider is required to send us.

We spoke with six people who lived at the service to gain their views and experience of the service provided. We also spoke to the registered manager, an assistant manager, two relatives and four staff.

We spent time observing the care and support provided and the interaction between staff and people. We looked at eight people's care files, medicine administration records, six staff recruitment records as well as staff training and supervision records, the staff rota and staff team meeting minutes. We spent time looking at the registered provider's records such as; policies and procedures, auditing and monitoring systems, complaints and incident and accident recording systems. We also looked at residents and relatives meeting minutes and surveys.

Updated 19 May 2018

Housing and Care 21 - Swallowdale provides personal care and support to people who live 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 the provision of the personal care service. Housing and Care 21 - Swallowdale has 64 properties. At the time of our visit there were 40 people receiving personal care support.

At our last inspection in May 2017 the service was rated ‘Requires Improvement’. At this inspection, we found the service 'Good'.

The inspection took place on 12 April 2018 and was unannounced and was undertaken by two adult social care inspectors.

There was a registered manager in post at the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service and has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law; as does the provider. 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 service people received was safe. There were effective safeguarding systems in place and all staff had received safeguarding training. Staff knew what to do if safeguarding concerns were suspected or witnessed. Safe recruitment procedures ensured unsuitable workers were not employed. Any risks to people's health and welfare were assessed and management plans put in place to reduce or eliminate that risk. There were sufficient numbers of care staff employed to meet people's needs. Where people were supported with their medicines this was done safely. Staff received safe administration of medicines training and their competency to support people properly was reviewed. The staff took appropriate measures to prevent and control any spread of infections.

The service was effective. People's care and support needs were assessed to ensure the supported living environment and care services were appropriate to meet care and support needs. Staff were trained and had regular supervision with the registered manager. People were supported with meal preparation where this had been identified as one of their care and support needs. People were supported to access any health care services they required. People's capacity to make decisions for themselves regarding their care and support was assessed and kept under review. The staff were aware of the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and understood their roles and responsibilities in supporting people to make their own choices and decisions.

People received a caring service. Staff treated people with kindness, respect and dignity. People were included in making decisions about their care and in planning the care and support they received. People told us staff were helpful and treated them with dignity and respect. Staff supported people to remain as independent as possible. People's care plans detailed information about their likes and dislikes, background, religious needs and required care support.

The service was responsive and each person had a person centred plan of care and support and the staff team were able to provide support flexibly. There was continuity of care as people told us the same staff visited. Feedback was gathered from people regarding their views and experience of the service they received. Information about how to raise a complaint was available to people and people knew who to speak with if they had a concern.

The registered provider had a clear management structure with effective systems and processes to oversee the quality of services and care provided. All staff spoken with told us of their commitment to provide people with a quality service. People told us they found staff approachable and responsive to their needs. There were regular 'resident' meetings where people could share their views and opinions about the quality of the service they received. There were also quality audit processes completed by management team and registered provider to ensure the service continued to meet people's needs to the standards they expected.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.