Archived: Olsen Court (Carewatch)

We considered the findings of our inspection to answer questions we always ask: Is the service caring? Is the service responsive? Is the service safe? Is the service effective? Is the service well led?

Below is a summary of what we found. The summary is based on our discussions with people who used the service and the staff who supported them. We spoke with one person and one relative who lived in Olsen Court by telephone. We also looked at three care records.

If you wish to see the evidence supporting our summary please read the full report.

Is the service safe?

One person told us they felt safe living at Olsen Court.

The service had policies and procedures in relation to the Mental Capacity Act (2005) MCA. The MCA states that every adult has the right to make their own decisions about their care and treatment and must be assumed to have capacity to make them unless it is proved otherwise.

We saw the service had policies and procedures in relation to safeguarding vulnerable adults and whistle blowing. We spoke with care staff who understood what was meant by abuse and knew how to report their concerns.

We saw the service had a programme of regular audit and risk assessments to ensure people were cared for in a safe environment.

Care staff told us they ensured equipment was in good working and reported any faults in order to keep people safe.

Is the service effective?

We looked at three care files and saw that people had their needs assessed and had a plan of care that met those needs.

We found staff attended training courses to meet the individual needs of people in their care such as the care of a person living with dementia.

Is the service caring?

One relative told us, 'The staff are very caring.'

We spoke with one person who confirmed they were well cared for.

Is the service responsive?

We saw when care workers raised concerns about people's health and social care needs, that the provider had contacted appropriate health and social care professionals. The individual care files identified this and a record of actions taken were recorded.

The provider had a daily report sheet that recorded any concerns identified and the action taken. This included forwarding notifications to CQC.

We saw the provider had contingency plans in place in event of an emergency situation.

Is the service well led?

Staff said they could speak with their supervisor or manager at any time. They said the senior team were approachable. One staff member said, 'I can go to them with any problems, about work and home life.' Another staff member said, 'I can come into the office. XX [manager] is very approachable, really understandable.'

We reviewed the policy for obtaining peoples written consent to provide them with care treatment and support. We found that although people had signed their care plans to agree their involvement and with the content of the care plans. Written consent had not always been obtained.

We noted that care plans and risk assessments that we reviewed appeared not to have been reviewed for over two years. However the up to date care plans and risk assessments had not been put in the files at the location, and were not accessible to care staff providing the care.

The provider had an appropriate recruitment policy and procedure in place and pre-employment checks were in place. Quality monitoring systems were in place, and we were provided with information following our inspection visit, as records were not stored at Olsen court, but in another office in Lincoln.

We found that the provider had not reported incidents to the Care quality Commission as required under the regulations. The provider was not meeting two of the five standards we checked.

Overall we observed people were supported by skilled and experienced staff who understood their roles and responsibilities.

We saw people were treated with dignity and respect and were supported to make decisions about their care. During our visit we heard staff talking to people who had called with queries in a sensitive way. We observed staff agreed to changes in visits according to people's wishes.

During our visit we looked at care plans and found they were person centred and had information about people's likes and dislikes.