Archived: ExtraCare Charitable Trust Bushfield Court

Updated 20 October 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 3 August 2016 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be in. The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

The provider had completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the information we held about the scheme and looked at the notifications they had sent us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

We spoke with eleven people who used the service and five relatives. We spoke with the head cook, three care staff, one well-being advisor, the locksmith (member of staff to assist people living with dementia) one visiting health professional, one team leader, the deputy manager and the registered manager.

We looked at two records about people’s care, two medicine records, staff and residents’ meeting minutes, incident forms, activity schedules, three staff monitoring sheets, two residents’ magazines, three people’s care reviews and quality audits that the registered manager and provider had competed.

Updated 20 October 2016

This inspection took place on 3 August 2016 and was announced.

The ExtraCare Charitable Trust Bushfield Court provides personal care for people living in a purpose built scheme where there are individual flats and bungalows with shared facilities. These included a restaurant area, lounge areas, fitness facilities and activity rooms. There were 46 people receiving personal care when we inspected. There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People who used the service and their representatives spoke highly of the registered manager and staff. All staff we spoke with were highly motivated and committed to ensuring people had the best quality of life possible.

People’s safety was taken seriously by the registered manager and staff who understood their responsibilities to protect people's health and well-being. Staff knew what action to take if they suspected abuse. Risks to people who used the service and staff safety both internally and externally to the person's home had been assessed and recorded, with measures put in place to manage any hazards identified. People told us they received their medicines as prescribed and at the correct time. They also felt that if they needed extra pain relief or other medicines these were provided. People told us there were enough staff to support them when they needed or wanted help or assistance.

Where needed people were supported to eat and drink enough to remain healthy. People had access to other healthcare professionals that provided treatment, advice and guidance to support their health needs.

Staff were supported to develop and progress within their role by the provider and registered manager. People received consistent support from the same staff who knew them well. The provider employed staff dedicated to people’s well-being and who understood the complexities of supporting people living with dementia or mental health needs.

We received very positive feedback about the care, the provider and the staff. People who used the service and their relatives felt staff went out of their way to support them in a kind, caring manner and went above and beyond what was expected to meet their needs. Staff developed positive, respectful relationships with people and were kind and caring in their approach.

People and relatives said skilled staff provided excellent care which met people's individual needs. This was confirmed by health professionals who told us they had evidenced people had achieved very positive outcomes whilst using the service particularly around increased confidence and independence. People were supported to plan and achieve goals and objectives relating to their independence and social life. People’s confidence and self-belief were supported by additional staff that worked with them to do this.

The provider and registered manager were committed to providing a high quality service to people and to its continuous development as an organisation. Feedback from people, their representatives and others was continually sought and used as an opportunity to improve the service people received. The provider and registered manager also demonstrated strong links with the local community.