Cypress Court

Updated 5 October 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 undertaken by 1 inspector, a nurse specialist adviser 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

Cypress 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. Cypress 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.

Inspection activity started on 22 August 2023 and ended on 7 September 2023. We visited the location’s office/service on 22, 24 and 25 August 2023.

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 and professionals who work with the service. 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 used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 7 people who lived at the service and 7 of their relatives. We spoke with 5 professionals who visited the service. We spoke to 13 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, nurses, senior carers, an activities co-ordinator, the chef and the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. 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. We reviewed 6 people’s care plans and a range of medicines records. We reviewed 3 staff files in relation to recruitment. We reviewed a range of records relating to the management of the service, including audits and policies and procedures.

Updated 5 October 2023

About the service

Cypress Court is a residential care home providing accommodation for persons who require nursing or personal care to up to 60 people. The service provides support to younger adults, older adults and those living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 47 people using the service. Cypress Court is a single, adapted building spread over 2 floors.

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

People received their medicines as prescribed. Records relating to medicines were accurately maintained, but topical and liquid treatments were not always marked with a date of opening. We made a recommendation about this. There were enough staff to support people and systems were in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse. Risks relating to people and the environment were assessed and control measures put in place to keep people safe.

The service was bright, clean, airy and well maintained. However, there were limited orientation aids to assist people living with dementia to navigate around the service effectively. We made a recommendation about this. People were supported to drink and eat enough to maintain a balanced diet. Staff completed a mixture of mandatory and person specific training, which was supported by regular supervisions and appraisals. 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.

Some people had difficulty in communicating with staff members who supported them. We made a recommendation about this. A range of activities were taking place, but people showed limited interest or engagement. The provider was working towards improving this process. There was a robust complaints procedure and where concerns were identified, improvements had been made.

People were supported by staff who respected their privacy, dignity and independence. We observed staff interacting with people in a kind and compassionate way. Relatives spoke positively of the staff approach and people were involved in expressing their views on the care they received.

Quality monitoring and audits had been improved and developed to ensure they were robust. Relatives and staff spoke positively of the management team and felt well supported. People, their relatives and staff were engaged in the running of the service and we saw evidence of good partnership working. The management team and staff had worked to ensure sustained improvements had been made since the last inspection.

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 inadequate (published 7 June 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. At our last inspection we recommended that the provider reviewed their recruitment procedure of overseas employees and their systems for the recording of medicines, including 'as required' medicines in line with good practice guidance. At this inspection we found the provider had acted on these recommendations, and improvements had been made.

This service has been in Special Measures since 7 June 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.

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

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.

Recommendations

We have made recommendations regarding topical and liquid medicines, staff communication and the use of dementia friendly orientation aids.

Follow up

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