Aaron Court

Updated 4 July 2023

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.

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 2 inspectors, a specialist advisor 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

Aaron Court is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Aaron Court is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 4 people using the service and 4 relatives. We spoke with the registered manager, regional manager, deputy manager, nurses, care staff, head of housekeeping and the maintenance person. We sought feedback from professionals who work with the service

We reviewed a range of records. This included 6 people's care records and multiple medication records. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment and a variety of records relating to the management of the service. Following our site visit the provider continued to provide information, which included data to support quality assurance and staff training.

Updated 4 July 2023

About the service

Aaron Court is a residential care home providing accommodation for people who require personal and nursing care for up to 91 people. The service provides support to older people, some of whom are living with dementia, people with a physical disability and younger adults. At the time of our inspection there were 84 people using the service.

Aaron Court was purpose built and has an accessible garden. The accommodation is provided over four floors. Each floor provides communal facilities for relaxation and dining, bedrooms, bathing and toilet facilities.

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

People’s safety was underpinned by the provider’s policies and processes. Lessons were learnt and improvements made through the analysis and reporting of accidents, incidents along with safeguarding concerns and investigations.

Potential risks related to people’s care were assessed. Medicine systems were managed safely, which included a proactive approach that ensured medicines to support people with end of life care for pain management and symptom relief were in place.

People were supported by sufficient staff who had undergone a robust recruitment process and had undertaken training in topics to promote their safety. People lived in an environment which was well maintained and clean, with safe infection and prevention measures.

Care plans provided clear and comprehensive guidance for staff to ensure people’s health care needs were understood and their needs met. People’s health and welfare was monitored by staff. Staff liaised effectively with health care professionals to achieve good outcomes for people.

People’s dietary needs were met assisted by staff’s commitment to create a positive dining experience for people and by people having access to snacks and drinks throughout the day. The environment was well-maintained and included facilities for people to relax and take part in activities.

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 and family members were in the main complimentary about the service they received. Staff told us they were supported by the management team and spoke of the opportunities available to them through ongoing training and development opportunities, including career progression. The provider had systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided, which included good communication and recognising and celebrating achievement across the organisation.

External professionals provided positive feedback about the quality of care people received, and of the commitment and knowledge of the management team and staff.

There was a proactive approach to continuous development to improve people’s quality of life. The registered manager and staff worked collaboratively, by committing themselves to pilot projects focusing on new ideas and technology.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 5 October 2022). At the last inspection we found improvements were needed to improve people’s safety by improving care plan records and guidance on the use of medicines. In addition, we found improvements were needed to ensure the principles of the mental capacity act were implemented, and systems to support governance to monitor quality and safety were required.

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.

At our last inspection we recommended the provider improved guidance for the administration of covert medicines.

As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, effective and well-led only.

At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements.

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.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good based on the findings of this inspection.

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

Follow up

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