Background to this inspection
Updated
17 September 2015
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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.
The inspection took place on 12 August and was unannounced.
The inspection team consisted of an 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.
Prior to the inspection we had asked the provider to complete a provider information return (PIR); this is a form that asks the provider to give us some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also we reviewed the information we held about the service including notifications the provider had sent to us. We contacted the Local Authority safeguarding team, the local commissioning team and the local Healthwatch organisation to obtain their views about the service.
During the inspection we spoke with six people who used the service, five relatives and three visiting professionals. We also spoke with the registered manager, the deputy manager, four members of care staff, the activity organiser and the cook on duty on the day of the inspection.
We carried out observations in the public areas of the service. We looked at the care and medication records for four people who used the service. We also looked at a range of records relating to how the service was managed; these included four staff personnel files, training records, quality assurance systems and policies and procedures.
Updated
17 September 2015
Andrews Court is a care home providing personal care and accommodation for up to 35 older people. The service is located in a converted church and provides all single bedrooms with en-suite facilities.
This was an unannounced inspection which took place on 12 August 2015. At the time of our inspection there were 34 people using the service. We had previously inspected this service in September 2014 when we found it was in breach of one of the regulations we reviewed. This was because there were limited quality assurance processes in place. During this inspection we found improvements had been made and the service was now meeting this regulation.
There was a registered manager in place at Andrews Court. 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. The registered manager was supported in the day to day running of the service by a deputy manager.
People who used the service told us they felt safe in Andrews Court. People’s visitors said they were happy with the care their relative received and had no concerns about their safety. Sufficient numbers of staff were available to meet people’s needs.
People spoke positively about the caring nature of staff. Our observations during the inspection showed staff were kind and respectful in their interactions with people who used the service.
Staff had been safely recruited. All the staff we spoke with knew the correct procedure to follow if an allegation of abuse was made to them or if they suspected that abuse had occurred.
Staff had received training to support them to deliver effective care. The registered manager was in the process of developing an improved system to monitor and plan for the training staff needed to keep their skills up to date. People we spoke with made positive comments about the knowledge and skills displayed by staff.
Systems were in place to ensure people who used the service received their medicines as prescribed. However, we noted the temperature of the room where medicines were stored was too high. When we brought this to their attention the deputy manager took immediate action to ensure medicines were stored at a safe temperature.
We saw there were risk assessments in place for the safety of the premises. All areas of the home were clean and well maintained. Procedures were in place to prevent and control the spread of infection. Systems were in place to deal with any emergency that could affect the provision of care, such as a failure of the electricity and gas supply.
People’s care records contained good information to guide staff on the care and support required. The care records showed that risks to people’s health and well-being had been identified and plans were in place to help reduce or eliminate the risk. People told us they had been involved in agreeing their care plans. This helped to ensure their wishes were considered and planned for.
We saw that appropriate arrangements were in place to assess whether people were able to consent to their care and treatment. We found the provider was meeting the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS); these provide legal safeguards for people who may be unable to make their own decisions.
We found the meals provided in Andrews Court were varied and nutritionally balanced. Systems were in place to help ensure people’s health and nutritional needs were met. Visiting health professionals we spoke with told us the standard of care provided by staff was very good.
A programme of activities was provided by the activity coordinator employed in the service. A reminiscence room had been developed to encourage people to discuss past interests and experiences. We noted people were supported to develop and maintain links with the local community.
Records we reviewed showed people had opportunities to comment on the care provided in Andrews Court. All the people we spoke with told us they would feel confident to raise any concerns with the staff and managers in the service.
Systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service provided to help ensure that people received safe and effective care.
Staff told us they enjoyed working at Andrews Court. People commented positively about the quality of leadership displayed by the registered manager in the service.