Providence Court

Updated 1 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 third inspector made calls to relatives following our site visit.

Service and service type

Providence 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. Providence Court is a care home without 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 manager in post who had applied to be registered.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 23 May 2023 and ended on 13 June 2023. We visited the service on 23 May 2023.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals 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 9 people and 18 relatives and friends about their experience of the care provided to their family members. We spoke with or had feedback from 11 members of staff including the manager, regional manager, care and ancillary staff. We also spoke with visiting professionals in the home.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 12 people’s care records, a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

We used the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 1 July 2023

About the service

Providence Court is a residential care home providing personal to up to 61 people. The service provides support to older people, some of whom are living with dementia, in 1 purpose-built building. At the time of our inspection there were 41 people using the service.

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

At the last inspection we found concerns relating to people’s safety and welfare. Therefore, this was a follow up inspection as the service was in special measures. At this inspection we found there had been significant improvements and we were assured that people’s wellbeing was being promoted.

People said they were safe and well supported by the service. Individual risks were assessed, and staff were aware of these and supported people safely. Reviews of events and accidents were carried out and any actions needed were carried out. People received their medicines as the prescriber intended and staff had received training and competency checks. However, there were some points relating to medicines that required further development. Staff knew how to report any concerns about a person’s safety or welfare. People told us there was enough staff to meet their needs. Infection control systems were in place.

Staff received training for their role and people felt they had good knowledge and skills. Staff felt supported by the management team. People were supported to eat and drink well. People were involved in the planning of their care and were given choices that were listened to.

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 relatives told us staff were kind and caring, they were happy living at Providence Court. Interactions observed were positive, staff responded to people in a way that anticipated their needs and demonstrated they knew people well. All observations found staff to be attentive and caring about the people they supported.

Staff told us things had improved at the home and people were happy and well cared for. Care plans included all information needed to support people safely and in accordance with their wishes and preferences. These were reviewed regularly. The management team had worked with staff to improve the culture and attitudes in the home. As a result, we found people were treated with dignity and respect. Staff communicated more effectively with people.

There were mixed views about activities from relatives. However, people and staff felt this was improving. Work was in progress to get care staff more involved with activities instead of only having planned activities.

The manager was well known in the home, they had recently returned to the home and applied to be re-registered having been in post previously, and prior to the issues arising identified at the last inspection. People, their relatives and staff spoke positively about them and the management team.

The monitoring processes in place were being used effectively to improve the standard of service. Quality assurance systems were used to identify any areas that needed further development and to help ensure remedial actions were implemented. Some points identified as part of this inspection were already being worked on by the manager and swift action was taken to address them.

People, their relatives and staff felt their views about the service were sought and listened to. People and staff told us that the manager was often around the home and the service was well run. Complaint processes were in place and the manager was encouraging regular contact with relatives.

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 the service was inadequate (published 10 February 2023).

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

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

This service has been in Special Measures since 10 February 2023. During this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

The overall rating for the service has changed from inadequate to good based on the findings of this 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.

Please see all sections of this full report.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Providence 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.