Background to this inspection
Updated
18 May 2019
The inspection: We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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 team: The inspection of Housing & Care 21 - Ash Lea Court was carried out by one Adult Social Care Inspector.
Service type: Housing & Care 21 - Ash Lea Court is an extra care housing scheme. The CQC only regulates personal care provided to people at the service and not the accommodation people lived in. For this reason, we only looked at the care people received.
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: The inspection of the service was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit to ensure the registered manager, staff and people were available to speak with us.
What we did when preparing for and carrying out this inspection: We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about, such as abuse; and we sought feedback from professionals who work with the service. We assessed the 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 all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection, we met with three people who received personal care from the service, to ask about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, manager and care staff.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people's care records and medicines records. We also looked at four staff files to check the recruitment of staff. We reviewed records relating to the management of the service and training records.
Updated
18 May 2019
Inspection summary
About the service: Housing & Care 21 Ash Lea Court is an extra care housing scheme for older people, comprising of 48 flats with some communal areas. People who lived at the service had a separate care and tenancy agreement. At the time of our inspection, the service supported 19 people with personal care. Some people who lived at the service received care and support from another provider. Other people required social and domestic visits or welfare calls only.
People’s experience of using this service:
The safety of people who used the service was taken seriously and the registered manager and staff were aware of their responsibility to protect people's health and wellbeing. People were confident to raise any concerns they had with staff and the registered manager.
Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of harm to people. Risk assessments had been kept under review and were relevant to the care provided.
Staff's suitability to work with vulnerable adults at the service had been checked prior to employment. For instance, previous employer references had been sought and a criminal conviction check undertaken.
People received their medicines as required, from trained and competent staff.
Staff ensured people were protected from the risk of infection.
Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s needs and protected them from harm. Plans were in place to recruit more staff and to increase staffing levels.
Staff had received training to meet the needs of people using the service. They had also received regular supervision and an appraisal of their work performance. The registered manager and staff demonstrated a clear understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.
People were supported to maintain good health, and staff liaised with external healthcare providers where appropriate to ensure that care was provided in a way that met people's needs.
People's nutritional needs were met, and people were assisted to prepare meals if they required this level of support.
People received information about the service in a way they could understand and chose how to live their lives in the least restrictive way possible.
Peoples care, and support was planned in a person-centred way and people chose how they liked their care to be delivered. People were supported by staff who were aware of people's life history and preferences and staff used this information to develop positive relationships.
Staff treated people with dignity and respect and helped to maintain people's independence by encouraging them to care for themselves where possible.
Lessons were learnt when things went wrong and systems were improved if needed. The registered manager had a clear understanding of their role and responsibilities.
The service was well-led by a dedicated management team who demonstrated compassion and commitment to the needs of the people who used the service as well as the staff who worked for them.
There were effective processes in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service.
Rating at last inspection: Good (report published 08 December 2016).
Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection. The service remained rated Good overall.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until the next inspection. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk