Background to this inspection
Updated
7 November 2019
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
One inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
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 bought 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 manager who was in the process of registering 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
We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 7 October 2019 and ended10 October 2019. We visited the office location on 7 October 2019.
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 took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We spoke to the local authority quality assurance team and reviewed information we held about the service since it’s registration.
We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with eight people who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the area manager, manager, assistant manager and care workers.
Updated
7 November 2019
About the service
Human Support Group Limited Passmore Edwards Court provides care and support to people in an extra care housing location which had been designed to meet people’s needs. The building contained 55 individual flats and had several communal areas for people to use including a restaurant, hairdressing salon and garden. 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. At the time of the inspection 30 people were receiving personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People told us they felt safe being supported by staff. Staff understood risks to people and how to help reduce them. People received their medicines on time from staff who had received training in medicines administration. We have made a recommendation about the information available to staff to identify concerns that needed referring to external professionals.
People were supported by staff who had the skills and knowledge to meet their needs. Staff meetings were used to remind staff of best practice and to discuss any concerns about people’s needs. Staff told us they felt well-supported by senior staff and the manager.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People felt cared for by staff. Staff spoke about people with affection and empathy. Staff respected people’s diverse characteristics and were clear that each person’s individual needs were their priority. People told us they felt listened to and their privacy and dignity were respected.
People were able to make choices about their life and how their care and support were provided. This information was reflected in people’s care plans. Staff understood the importance of respecting people’s wishes and choices. The manager and senior staff supported people to plan activities and events. This helped cultivate a sense of community amongst people. We have made a recommendation about the accessible information standard (AIS).
People and staff told us the service was well led. People were given various opportunities to provide feedback about the service. The manager and senior staff had developed positive relationships with local organisations, which helped ensure people had their needs met promptly. Staff told us they enjoyed working at the service and that the team worked well to support each individual’s needs.
Rating at last inspection This service was registered with us on 18/10/2018 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the date of registration.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk