Background to this inspection
Updated
12 August 2021
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service 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 owned or 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.
The service had a registered manager who was 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
This inspection was announced.
We gave the service 48 hours' notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 10 July 2021 and ended on 12 July 2021. We visited the office location on 12 July 2021.
What we did before the inspection
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We sought feedback from partner agencies and professionals. On-going monitoring such as information received. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with three people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the provider, registered manager, quality manager, care manager and three members of staff. We reviewed a range of records. This included four people's care and medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training information, reviewed risk assessments and quality assurance records.
Updated
12 August 2021
About the service
Peripatetic Service – Sherwood Court is an extra care housing scheme providing personal care and support to 23 people at the time of the inspection.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.
People's experience of using this service and what we found
People spoke positively about the service. They felt it was safe and staff were caring. People told us, "Staff come to see me and they are always nice and friendly” and, “I’m very safe, it’s a very nice place to be, with lovely staff."
Each person's care needs had been reviewed and documented. Staff had access to risk assessments, carried out to ensure people received safe care. Pre-employment checks such as references had been sought to ensure staff were suitable to support people. Systems were in place to prevent infections. Medicine care plans described people's prescribed medicines and creams and dosages. Staff had access to personal protective equipment and were aware of their responsibility to minimise the spread of infections.
The service was well led. The registered manager promoted an open and honest culture. Effective quality assurance processes were in place. People and relatives were consulted about the quality of the service through surveys and meetings. Staff were involved in the development and improvement of the service through regular meetings.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The previous rating for this service was Requires Improvement (published 14 August 2019).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of this service on 10, 11 June 2019. A breach of legal requirements was found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve in relation to good governance.
We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the Key Questions 'Is the service Safe and Well-led?' which contain those requirements.
The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from Requires Improvement to Good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Peripatetic Service - Sherwood Court on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.