Courthill Care Home

Updated 30 September 2021

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Courthill Care Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

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 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from people using the service and the local authority. We spoke with one relative about the care provided. We spoke with two members of staff. We undertook a direct monitoring activity (DMA) with the registered manager and provider. We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records, provider audits of care and documentation in relation to fire safety. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We spoke with three people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff including the provider, deputy manager and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included multiple medication records and fire safety 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 spoke with two relatives to hear their feedback about the care provided. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with the local authority and one professional who regularly visits the service.

Updated 30 September 2021

About the service

Courthill Care Home is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to three people with a learning disability and people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to six people in one adapted building.

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

People told us they felt safe and that staff were kind and caring towards them. People told us they felt supported with their healthcare needs and we confirmed this from records we reviewed.

People received their medicines on time and were supported to take their medicines independently should they wish to. The registered manager was undertaking a regular analysis of the reason ‘when required’ medicines were administered and healthcare professionals were involved in people’s care.

There were sufficient and suitably skilled staff at the service to support people with their needs. Staff were aware of risks associated with people’s care and the steps they should take to provide people with the most appropriate care.

Care and risk management plans were recorded in a comprehensive and person-centred manner. Safety checks of the premises and equipment had been undertaken and plans were in place to protect people in the event of a fire.

We were assured the service were following safe infection prevention and control procedures to keep people safe.

Staff were supervised and told us they felt supported by the management team. Staff were clear on the governance structure of the service and knew their roles and responsibilities.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality of care provided. People and relatives told us they knew how to complain and were confident concerns would be listened to and addressed by the provider.

Staff told us they felt able to approach the provider to discuss any ideas they may have to improve the service. We received feedback from healthcare professionals who told us the service worked in partnership with them to ensure people were able to access appropriate healthcare services.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

Based on our review of the key questions of safe and well-led, the service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. People were supported with their independence. Staff had an understanding to enable people to live fulfilled lives.

Right support:

• Model of care and setting maximises people’s choice, control and independence

Right care:

• Care is person-centred and promotes people’s dignity, privacy and human rights

Right culture:

• Ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensure people using services lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 4 February 2019). There were no breaches of regulation. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the rating has now improved to good.

Why we inspected

This focused inspection was prompted by our data insight which assesses potential risks at services, concerns in relations to aspects of care provision and based on the rating at the last comprehensive inspection.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Courthill Care Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

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.