Housing 21 - Fry Court

Updated 1 December 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.

Inspection team

The inspection was completed by one inspector and one 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

Housing 21 - Fry Court 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 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 24 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.

Inspection activity started on 9 November 2021 and ended on 11 November 2021. We visited the office location on 9 November 2021.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

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.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who used the service and seven relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager, assistant housing manager and assistant care managers. We sought and gained feedback from eight support workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 1 December 2021

About the service

Housing 21 – Fry Court is an extra care housing scheme providing personal care to people aged 65 and over. People using the service lived in their own flats/apartments in one large complex. At the time of the inspection the service was supporting 38 people with personal care.

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 and their relatives told us they were happy with the care and support they received from Housing 21 – Fry Court. One person said, “They are brilliant and do a remarkable job, I really can’t fault them, they are very organised.”

People received their care from a consistent staff team, with whom they had built trusting relationships. Everyone told us staff were caring and patient.

The management team ensured people received safe care with systems and processes in place which helped to minimise risks. Staff reported any safeguarding matters. The management team investigated any concerns and resolved these matters. All incidents were analysed to learn any lessons and embed into staff practices.

People were supported by staff who had the skills and experience to help them to maintain and develop their independence. Staff treated people as individuals and respected their privacy and lifestyle choices.

Medicines systems were organised and people were receiving their medicines when they should. The provider was following national guidance for the receipt, storage, administration and disposal of medicines.

People were involved in decisions about the care they received and staff knew how to communicate with each person to help them to make choices.

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 the service supported this practice.

The management team were open and approachable which enabled people to share their views and raise concerns. People told us if they were worried about anything they would be comfortable to talk with staff or the management team.

The structure in the service ensured people and staff had access to, and support from, a competent management team. The provider monitored quality, sought people's views, and planned ongoing improvements.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 19 June 2020 and this is the first inspection.

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.