Archived: Whitebeck Court

Updated 4 September 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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. We did this so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection team comprised 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 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 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

We gave the service 36 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all 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 six members of staff including the registered manager, the care coordinator and care staff. We spoke with two scheme coordinators employed by the housing provider responsible for the premises. We reviewed a range of records that included three people’s care records, three people’s medicines records and two staff files.

After the inspection

We reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies, procedures and quality assurance records. We sought feedback from the local authority.

Updated 4 September 2021

About the service

Whitebeck Court is an extra care housing service based in a retirement housing scheme in North Manchester. The retirement housing scheme is managed by the local authority and comprises 91 self-contained flats in a tower block. The care provider, Green Square Accord, provided personal care to 27 older people at the time of our inspection.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People received the care they needed to keep them safe and well. Staff used risk assessments and care plans to support people based on their needs and preferences. Staff complied with good infection control practices when supporting people such as wearing personal protective equipment. People received their medicines safely.

The service had a stable staff team who knew people well. The provider ensured staff had the skills and confidence to support people effectively. People received support that gave them maximum choice and control of their lives. 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 developed good working relationships with people and helped them maintain their independence. Managers kept in regular contact with people and their relatives to check they were happy with the service provided. People described the staff as caring and well-trained.

Staff felt happy in their jobs; they described good team working and supportive managers. Regional and local managers used a range of governance systems, tools and processes to assess the quality of the service and identify areas that needed attention.

The service promoted high quality, person-centred care and had an open and honest culture. People gave positive feedback about the staff and the service. The service had good working relationships with local agencies such as housing and social services.

Rating at last inspection

This service registered with us on 2 June 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned comprehensive inspection because the service had not been inspected before.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all extra care scheme inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

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.