We carried out a review of the data available to us about St Armands Court on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about St Armands Court, you can give feedback on this service.
We were somewhat assured that this service met good infection prevention and control guidelines.
Risks of visiting professionals spreading infection were reduced. Visitors had their temperature taken and were asked about their health before entering the service. At the time of our inspection there were no visitors other than health professionals.
The home was clean and there were no malodours. Bathrooms and equipment were clean. Cleaning schedules were in place however, specific bathroom checks and shared equipment cleaning records had not been completed. The registered manager immediately actioned this.
The provider had appropriate arrangements to test people and staff for COVID- 19 and was following government guidance on testing.
Staff were trained on how to keep people safe from the risk of infection. Most staff wore their PPE in line with government guidance. Through discussions with staff, it was clear staff knew when and how to use PPE appropriately. However, some staff either did not wear masks correctly or did not have them on. This was immediately address by the manager and assurances provided that this would be regularly monitored.
People admitted to the service were supported following government guidelines on managing new admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The service's infection prevention and control policy was up to date and in line with current guidance.
Staff supported people to keep in touch with family and friends through video and phone calls to prevent isolation and promote people's mental wellbeing.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
St Armand’s court is a care home providing personal and nursing care for 35 older people. The service can
support up to 40 people.
People’s experience of using the service
We found the provider did not always maintain appropriate or accurate records. We made a recommendation.
People were supported safely and protected from harm. There were systems in place to reduce the risk of abuse and to assess and monitor potential risks to people.
The management of medicines was safe. Risk assessments had been completed and were regularly reviewed. Incidents and accidents were managed effectively; lessons were learned to prevent future risks.
There were enough skilled and experienced staff to meet the needs of people who used the service. Staff completed training, supervisions and appraisals.
People were well cared for by staff who treated them with respect and dignity. People were involved in decisions about their care. People's right to privacy was maintained by staff.
People were involved in meal choices and supported to maintain a balanced diet. Health needs were regularly monitored, and staff followed the advice healthcare professionals gave them.
Staff understood their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive was possible. Staff understood people’s likes, dislikes and preferences and people were offered choices about their care.
A complaints system was in place and complaints were managed effectively. People told us they knew how to complain if needed.
The provider had embedded quality assurance systems to monitor the quality and safety of the care provided. People were asked for their views and their suggestions were used to improve the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This is the first inspection for this new provider, registered 17 September 2018. The last rating for this service was good (published 21 June 2016). Since this rating was awarded the registered provider of the service has changed. We have used the previous rating to inform our planning and decisions about the rating at this inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.