Background to this inspection
Updated
11 May 2022
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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Inspection team
The inspection was completed by 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 is an extra care housing and domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes. 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.
Registered Manager
This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
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 28 March 2022 and ended on 11 April 2022. We visited the location’s office on 30 March 2022.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with the registered manger, service manager and a senior care worker. We reviewed three care plans, medication records and three staff files. We spoke with four people receiving a service and four relatives. We reviewed records associated with the management and compliance of the service which included policies, procedures, audits, and checks. We looked at staff recruitment details, training, supervisions, appraisals and checks to determine staff were competent in their roles.
After the inspection
We spoke with three care staff. We reviewed further records including details of staff training and recruitment checks.
Updated
11 May 2022
About the service
Plaxton Court Domiciliary Care Agency is a domiciliary and extra care housing service providing personal care to older people living in their own homes in a community setting on the outskirts of Scarborough in North Yorkshire. At the time of our inspection there were twenty people using the service.
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 received and the staff who supported them. They confirmed they were involved in their care planning and the service was person centred. Care records included monthly evaluations to ensure staff had access to information to provide safe person-centred care and support.
Staff spoke positively about their roles and the people they supported. It was evident from discussions staff had a very clear understanding of people’s needs. Staff told us there was enough staff on duty and as a small team they worked well together to meet people’s needs all the time.
People received their medicines as prescribed from staff who followed best practice guidance.
Staff received appropriate training and support to carry out their roles.
A policy was in place to ensure staff received regular supervision and appraisal. Staff fed back they valued supervision for them to provide a confidential personal reflection of their role, expectations and discuss any concerns.
Staff meetings fostered the team approach to working with people and along with resident meetings encouraged feedback to further enhance the service provided.
Staff always received appropriate induction, training, professional development, supervision and appraisal as necessary to enable and support them to carry out the duties they were employed to perform.
Management completed a range of audits and checks to maintain standards of service. People and staff provided feedback that management were always approachable, and communication was positive.
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.
Staff had good access to personal protective equipment to manage the risks associated with the spread of infection including CVOID-19 and adhered to government guidance to protect people. The service was proactively supporting people to re-engage with their loved ones, the community, activities and areas of interest following the restrictions in place during the pandemic.
The provider worked closely with other health professionals to support people’s wellbeing.
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
This service was registered with us on 17 January 2020 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect