Plymouth Court Limited

Updated 30 May 2020

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

There was one inspector in the inspection team.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in a number ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

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 we needed to be sure that the provider or 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 since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. 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 two people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with one duty manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records. We looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the registered manager to validate evidence found. We looked at quality assurance records sent to us by the registered manager. We also spoke with two care staff by telephone.

Updated 30 May 2020

About the service

Plymouth Court provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. The setting comprises of 52 purpose-built bungalows in a shared site. The accommodation is bought 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. At the time of the inspection three people were using the service.

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 felt safe and well supported. People knew the staff well and assured staff understood how to keep them safe. Staff had received training and understood the importance of protecting people from harm and felt confident the registered manger would listen and act upon their concerns. Risks to people’s health had been detailed in care plans for staff to refer to. Risks were reviewed in line with people’s needs. The registered provider had processes in place to recruit staff safely. Where appropriate, people were supported with their medicines. Although not everyone received support with their medecines. Accident and incidents were monitored to ensure people received the care they needed.

People’s needs were assessed prior to them joining the service so that the registered manager understood their needs and was able to provide the support they needed. Staff training needs were monitored and staff had access to regular supervision and guidance. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People liked the staff supporting them and staff had developed a good understanding of their individual needs. People felt staff were like friends and that the relationship was easy and comfrortable. Staff had received training and understood how to support people whilst maintaining their dignity and promoting their independence.

People were involved in regularly reviewing their care so that it met their needs. People felt able to talk with staff and tell staff what they needed and how they needed their care delivered. As people’s needs changed their care was adapted to reflect their needs. People understood they complain if they needed to and the process for doing so but had not needed to complaint. Staff knew who to contact in the event of a life limiting emergency.

People and staff felt the registered manager was approachable and that information was clear and that communication was good. The registered manager had systems in place to review and check the quality of care people received and make necessary changes where appropriate. The registered manager worked with other stakeholders such as the local authority in order to improve their knowledge and develop best practice.

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

Rating at last inspection The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 20 February 2019).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Plymouth Court Limited on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.