Background to this inspection
Updated
2 November 2017
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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 was a comprehensive inspection. The inspection took place on 11 October 2017 and was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice of the inspection to make sure someone was available in the office to meet with us. The inspection was carried out by one inspector and one 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
Before our inspection we reviewed information we held about the service. This included statutory notifications received from the provider and the Provider Information Return (PIR). The PIR is a form we asked the provider to complete prior to our visit which gives us some key information about the service, including what the service does well, what the service could do better and improvements they plan to make.
During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager, the team leader, two care workers and the regional operations manager. We looked at a range of records including three staff files, five people’s care plans, records relating to medicines management and other records relating to the management of the service.
On the same day as the inspection the expert by experience called six people using the service to gather their views.
Updated
2 November 2017
This inspection took place on 11 October 2017 and was announced. We gave the registered manager 48 hours to make sure someone was available in the office to meet with us. This was the first inspection of the service following registration with CQC in March 2016.
Brookhurst Court provides personal care for people living in one bedroom flats in a supported living scheme of the same name. People at Brookhurst Court were older people and most needed minimal support with personal care. Some people were living with dementia, some had physical disabilities and a minority had higher levels of support needs. There were 29 people receiving the regulated activity personal care at the time of our inspection.
The home had 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People were safeguarded from abuse and neglect as staff were trained to identify signs people may be being abused and how to respond to keep people safe. Staff were confident to whistleblow if they observed poor practice which put people at risk.
There were enough staff deployed to meet people’s needs and the registered manager and staff worked overtime to cover staff shortages. Staff were recruited following robust procedures to check their suitability.
Risks to people were reduced as the provider assessed risks and put management plans in place for staff to follow. The provider put care plans in place to inform staff about people’s needs and the best ways to provide care to meet these needs. People were involved in developing their care plans and they were regularly reviewed so information in them remained current and reliable for staff to follow.
People’s medicines were managed safely by the provider. The provider assessed risks to each person relating to medicines, although they had not ensured these were reviewed at least once a year so they remained current. Staff received training in managing medicines each year and the provider assessed their competency to administer medicines. People received their medicines as prescribed and accurate records were kept of medicines administration.
People received care in line with the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and staff received training in relation to this each year so their knowledge remained current.
Staff were supported by the provider. A programme of induction, training, supervision and appraisal was in place to help staff understand people’s needs and carry out their roles.
People received their choice of food and drink and were satisfied with the support they received in relation to eating and drinking. Staff supported people to maintain their health and to access healthcare services where this was part of their care package.
The staff treated people with dignity and respect. Staff knew the people they supported and encouraged people to maintain their independence. People were involved in decisions about the care they received.
The provider encouraged people to feedback on the service and the provider had processes in place to investigate and respond to complaints.
The service was well-led. The registered manager and staff had a good understanding of their role and responsibilities and the provider had audits in place to monitor and assess the quality of service and gather feedback from people and staff.