Updated 9 February 2024
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 carried out by 1 inspector, 1 medicines 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
Southlands Retirement Apartments with Care and Support provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted household accommodation in a shared 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 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 new manager had been in post for 6 months and had submitted an application to register. We are currently assessing this application.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was unannounced on both dates that visits were undertaken.
Inspection activity started on 6 December 2023. We visited the location’s service on 6 and 12 December 2023.
What we did before the inspection
Before the inspection, we reviewed all the information we held about the service including information about important events which the service is required to tell us about by law. 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 of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with 7 people using the service and 2 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We observed care in the communal areas to help us understand the experience of people. We gathered information from 5 members of staff including the manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included 3 people's care plans, risk assessments and associated information, and other records of care to follow up on specific issues. We also reviewed 4 medication records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment, training, supervision, and appraisals. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were also reviewed.