Background to this inspection
Updated
29 November 2019
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
The inspection was completed by one inspector and an 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.
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.
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 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 6 November 2019 and ended on 7 November 2019. We visited the office location which is based at Cornerstones on both dates and we also visited Chimney Court on the first day.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since it was registered. 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.
What we did before inspection
We sought feedback from the local authority who commissioned the service and two professionals who work with the service, provided feedback. 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 nine people who used the service about their experience of the care provided and one relative. We also spoke with a volunteer, a housing professional and a visiting health professional. We spoke with six members of staff including four care staff, the registered manager and the service manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and their medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We received feedback on the service from a sixth health care professional.
Updated
29 November 2019
About the service
Creative Support-Cornerstones and Chimney Court is an extra care housing scheme, providing support to people living in their own flats across two sites. Cornerstones has 41 flats and Chimney Court has 56 flats. At the time of the inspection the service was providing personal care to 40 people. Although most people who use the service are older, the scheme also accommodates some younger adults with a mental health diagnosis, learning disability or physical disability.
The provider provides a range of low-level support services for everyone who live at both schemes; whether or not they receive personal care. 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
There were robust process and systems in place to keep people safe from the risk of abuse. Potential risks to people were identified with them and relevant actions were taken to ensure their safe management. There were sufficient numbers of suitable staff to support people at all times. People received their medicines safely from trained and competent staff. The registered manager ensured any relevant information was shared with staff following incidents or concerns, to minimise the risk of repetition.
People’s needs were assessed prior to the provision of their care, which was based on current legislative requirements and guidance. Staff had the required skills and knowledge to provide people’s care effectively. Staff ensured people received the level of support they required in order to maintain a balanced diet. Staff worked well both together as a team and across services to ensure people received effective care, including health care.
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 told us staff treated them with kindness, respect and compassion. A person said, “They are really good, they care. It’s not just a job to them, they enjoy it.” Staff supported people to express their views and to be involved in making decisions about their care. People’s privacy, dignity and independence were respected and promoted.
People received personalised care that gave them choice and control and reflected their needs and preferences. People were encouraged and supported to participate in activities of interest to them and to maintain relationships that were important to them. People were encouraged to raise any issues and these were thoroughly investigated. Staff supported people at the end of their lives.
The service was well managed and well-led. Staff felt valued and confident they could raise any issues. People’s and staff’s views on the service were sought. People benefitted from the service maintaining strong relationships with other stakeholders including those based on the two sites and external providers and services. Processes were in place to monitor the quality of the service provided and to identify areas for improvement.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 23 March 2018 and this is the first inspection. The services at this location were previously supplied by another provider.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.