Springfield

Updated 21 June 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.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out 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.

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 bought or 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.

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.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours' notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since registration with the Care Quality Commission. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We gave the provider the opportunity to share this information during this inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people's relatives to gain their feedback on the care and support provided. We also spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager and care staff.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people's care records and a sample of medicine 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 were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data, staff recruitment information and policies and procedures.

Updated 21 June 2022

Springfield provides extra care housing in a gated community in the heart of Ashby-de-la-zouch. The service is registered to provide personal care for people who require care and support in addition to housing. At the time of our inspection, there were 69 people using the service, 11 of whom received the regulated activity of personal care.

People's experience of using this service and what we found

People's needs had been assessed however care plans did not fully reflect key information relating to people's specific needs, including health conditions. Risks were mitigated as staff demonstrated they knew people well, though, on occasions, people were supported by staff who were not as familiar with their needs. Relatives felt improvements could be made to records where people required support to access meals. The registered manager told us they would improve and develop records to include key, personalised information, following our inspection visit.

People were supported to take their medicines safely. There was a process in place to report and investigate incidents and accidents. Staff followed safe procedures to manage the risk of infections for people. Sufficient numbers of trained staff were deployed to meet people's needs. 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. We have made a recommendation about reviews of people's mental capacity.

People were cared for by kind, compassionate and respectful staff. Staff understood the need to respect people's privacy and dignity and supported people to maintain their independence.

Staff were knowledgeable about people's needs, preferences and wishes as to how they wanted their care to be provided. People's communication needs were met. There was a complaints procedure in place and people were encouraged and supported to share any concerns about their care.

A new registered manager was in post and they had begun the process of identifying and implementing improvements and establishing consistency within the service. Staff told us they received good support and leadership in their roles. The provider's systems allowed staff to monitor the quality of the service and drive continuous improvements.

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 1 September 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.