Updated 29 April 2022
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.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service 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 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 service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post, but they were not working on the day of our inspection. The inspection was supported by the operational manager and a registered manager from a nearby supported living service.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was announced. This was because people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of our inspection.
Inspection activity started on 28 March 2022 and ended on 4 April 2022. We visited the location’s office on 28 March 2022.
What we did before the inspection
We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make.
We looked at information we held about the service including notifications they had made to us about important events.
We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with nine people who used the service, some on the day of our visit but others we subsequently telephoned. We spoke with the operational manager, three team leaders, and three staff. We reviewed three people's care records, policies and procedures, records relating to the management of the service, training records and the recruitment records of two staff.
After the inspection
We contacted visiting professionals about their view of the support provided and continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate the evidence found.