20 June 2018
During a routine inspection
Newington Court Extra Care Unit 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.
Not everyone using Newington Court Extra Care Unit receives regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided. At the time of the inspection, there were 20 people receiving the regulated activity.
This was the first inspection of the service since their registration with the CQC on 18 May 2017, following a change in provider. The service’s office was based at the site of the extra care unit.
There was a registered manager in post. 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 told us they felt safe living at Newington Court Extra Care Unit. People were protected from the risk of abuse and avoidable harm. Staff received training in safeguarding and were aware of who to contact if they had concerns.
Risks to people were assessed, monitored and were reviewed regularly or when people's needs changed. People were involved in decisions about any risks they may take.
People told us and we observed there were sufficient staff available to support people to stay safe and meet their needs. The provider’s policies and systems promoted safe recruitment practices.
People were supported with their medicines safely; they received these on time, as prescribed and were supported by trained staff.
People were protected by the prevention and control of infection; staff had access to personal protective equipment and had completed food hygiene training.
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.
People were protected from the risk of poor nutrition and staff were aware of people's nutritional needs. The service worked with external professionals, such as district nurses, GPs, occupational therapists, physiotherapists as and when needed.
People who used the service and their relatives were complimentary about the standard of care provided by the service. People said their privacy and dignity were respected and they enjoyed positive relationships with all staff.
People's needs were assessed before they started using the service and care plans were personalised.
People who used the service and their relatives were aware of how to make a complaint.
People, relatives and staff were regularly consulted about the quality of the service. People told us the registered manager and staff were helpful and approachable.
There were quality assurance arrangements in place, which were used to identify and address current and potential concerns and promote continuous improvement.
As this was the service’s first inspection under the new provider's registration there were no requirements for previous ratings to be displayed.