Updated 26 September 2023
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
This inspection was undertaken by 3 inspectors 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 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 service.
Registered Manager
This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.
At the time of our inspection there was not a registered manager in post. A manager had been in post since February 2023 and had submitted an application to register which CQC rejected due to incomplete information being provided and a failure to respond to communication.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was announced. We gave the service 48 hours' notice of the inspection visit. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 24 July 2023 and ended on 8 August 2023. We visited the location office at Housing 21 Meadow Walk on 24 July 2023.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers 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 6 people and 5 relatives about the service they were receiving. We visited the provider's office on 8 August 2023 and spoke with the manager, regional manager, and team leaders. We had contact with 5 care staff. We reviewed records that included 4 people's care plans, risk assessments and medicine administration records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures, quality assurance systems, staff recruitment and training records.