Hartford Court

Updated 16 March 2022

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.

As part of CQC’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 25 February 2022 and was announced. We gave the service one days’ notice of the inspection

Updated 16 March 2022

This was an unannounced inspection which took place on 15 February 2018.

Hartford Court is a care home (without nursing). People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Hartford Court can accommodate up to 60 older people in a spacious, specially designed, purpose built building which provided accommodation across two floors. Each floor could accommodate 30 people. On the day of the inspection visit 42 people were resident in the home. Some people were living with other associated conditions such as dementia and physical and sensory difficulties.

At the last inspection, on 21 April 2017 the service was rated as requires improvement in three domains, safe, responsive and well-led. It was rated as good in effective and caring. It was consequently rated as overall requires improvement.

There were breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. Following the last inspection, we asked the provider to complete an action plan to show what they would do and by when to make improvements to the areas we identified as requiring attention. It was intended that any improvements made should be to at least a good rating.

We received a provider action plan on 22 June 2017 to tell us how they would meet the relevant legal requirements. That is; to demonstrate person centred care, reduce risks to people, to administer medicines safely and ensure people received a good level of care.

They told us they would complete these actions in July and August of 2017. We found that these actions had been completed.

At this inspection we found the service was rated as good in all domains and therefore overall good.

Why the service is rated good.

There is a registered manager running the service. 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, staff and visitors were protected from harm and the service was as safe as possible. The staff team were trained to maintain and promote people’s health, well-being and safety.

People were protected by staff who understood how to keep them safe and knew what action to take if they identified any concerns. They made sure that people were not subjected to any poor practice or abuse.

The service identified general risks and risks to individuals and appropriate action was taken to reduce them, as far as possible.

People benefitted from adequate staffing ratios which ensured there were enough staff on duty to meet people’s diverse individual needs safely. Recruitment systems were in place to make sure, that as far as possible, staff recruited were safe and suitable to work with people. People were supported to take their medicines, at the right times and in the right amounts by trained and competent staff. Individuals were encouraged to take some responsibility for their own medicines, as was safe and appropriate.

People were appropriately cared for by trained staff who were supported to make sure they could meet people’s varied and sometimes complex needs. Staff dealt effectively with people’s current and changing health needs. They worked closely with health and other professionals to ensure people received the best care possible.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The whole management team with support from the provider had worked towards improving the quality of care and outcomes for people. People were supported by a caring and committed staff team who demonstrated interest and passion in their work. They met people’s needs with patience, kindness and compassion.

The service was person-centred and responded to people’s needs and preferences. Activity programmes were designed to meet people’s needs and interests. The computerised care planning system was detailed and individualised and further enhancements were planned. Care plans were regularly reviewed which ensured people’s needs were met and their equality and diversity was respected.

The registered manager was highly thought of and ensured the service was well-led. Staff and families of people who used the service described the registered manager and the management team as open, approachable and supportive. The management and staff teams ensured they adhered to the values of the provider and there was no discrimination relating to staff or people in the service. The quality of care the service provided was assessed, reviewed and improved upon where appropriate.