Douglas Court

Updated 10 March 2022

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of COVID-19, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) practice is safe and that services are compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 16 February 2022 and was unannounced.

Updated 10 March 2022

About the service

Douglas Court is a residential care home, registered to provide accommodation for up to 43 older people, younger adults and or people living with dementia. Douglas Court accommodates people across two floors. On the day of our visit 42 people were using the service.

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

Improvements had been made to the deployment of staff in communal areas. However a few people felt staffing levels were not always fully effective.

Improvements identified in internal audits were not always actioned. For example, action from the infection control audit had not been implemented.

People told us they felt safe at Douglas Court. People were supported by staff who had a good knowledge of how to protect them from abuse and harm.

Risk assessments were in place, providing guidance for staff in how to mitigate risks and keep people safe from harm. People's medicines were administered as prescribed. People were protected from the risk of infection.

Staff supported people with their dietary needs. People were supported to access healthcare services as required.

People were supported by staff who promoted their privacy and dignity. Staff had a good understanding of people, their likes and dislikes. Staff encouraged people to be independent.

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.

The provider’s complaints policy and procedure were accessible to people who used the service and their representatives. People knew how to make a complaint.

People had opportunities to participate in activities and social events organised by staff.

The registered manager understood their legal responsibilities and had shared information with us and others when they needed to. People and their relatives told us the service was well-led. Staff told us they enjoyed working at the service and worked well as a team.

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 good (published 15 December 2016).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.