We carried out a review of the data available to us about Norton Court and Durham House 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 Norton Court and Durham House, you can give feedback on this service.
Norton Court provides care and support to older people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. 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 our inspection 19 people were using the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People received the care and support they needed to reduce risks associated with their health and safety and to maintain their independence. Care plans were in place which provided guidance to staff to deliver appropriate care to people.
Staff understood safeguarding procedures and knew what actions to take if abuse had occurred. Medicines were handled and administered safely. Incidents and accidents were managed in a way which ensured lessons were learnt to prevent reoccurrence. Infection control procedures were followed. People received care and support from staff when they required it. There were enough staff available to care for people. Staff were recruited in a way that ensured people were safe with them.
Staff were supported through an induction, on-going training, regular supervision and appraisal to help them be effective in their roles. Staff worked effectively with social and health care professionals and other services to meet people’s needs. People were supported to meet their nutritional and dietary needs.
Staff cared for people with kindness and compassion. Staff understood the importance of delivering care to people in a way that maintained their dignity, privacy and independence. People were given choice about their care. Staff received equality and diversity training and they respected people’s individualities.
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 place support this practice. People consented to their care. People and their relatives were involved in making decisions about their care. Staff and the manager understood their roles and responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005.
People and their relatives knew how to raise concerns about the service. People felt safe with staff and in the way their care was delivered. The registered manager and provider regularly monitored the quality of service using a range of systems. The provider worked effectively with other services and organisations to develop 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
The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Norton Court on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) was available at the entrance of the service and there were signs around prompting visitors to use them. Hand sanitizers were also available for use. Staff used PPE appropriately. Relatives of people visited people using the service as they wished in line with current national guidelines which included regular visits from their relatives. Staff requested to see COVID-19 test results from healthcare professionals visiting people.
Staff had received infection control training and they understood the procedures for donning and doffing PPE. Used PPE were disposed appropriately and safely. The registered manager told us they used observation and supervision to check if staff were following procedures.There were housekeepers available maintaining the cleanliness and hygiene of the building. The provider had appropriate infection prevention and control policies and procedures in place which staff understood and followed.
People and staff were routinely tested for COVID-19, in line with national guidelines. They had also been vaccinated. Infection control audits took place regularly. People were supported to isolate if they tested positive or showed symptoms of COVID-19 in line with government guidelines. Staff also isolated if they tested positive to COVID-19.
The registered manager worked closely with the local authority’s Public Health team and followed guidance provided to manage any risk. There were enough staff to support people.