Bowe's Court Care Home

Updated 14 July 2022

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 one inspector 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

Bowe’s Court Care Home 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. Bowe’s Court Care home 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 service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a manager in post who had applied to the Commission to become registered as manager.

Notice of inspection

The start of the inspection was announced, and the site visit was unannounced.

We gave a short period of notice at the start of the inspection, which was carried out remotely, so the manager could send the required records.

Inspection activity started remotely off site on 16 June 2022 and a site visit took place on 29 June 2022. The inspection ended on 29 June 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection, including the notifications of accidents and incidents we had received from the provider. 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. This is information providers are required to send us 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

During the inspection we communicated with eight people who used the service and 11 relatives about their experience of the care provided. Not everyone who used the service communicated verbally or wished to speak on the telephone, therefore they gave us permission to speak with their relative. We spoke with 15 members of staff including the deputy manager, the head of care outcomes, one registered nurse, one student nurse, one therapy assistant, one CHAP, two senior support workers, and seven support workers. We received feedback from one health and social care professional.

We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and multiple medicines records. We looked at five staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including training information and policies and procedures, were reviewed.

Updated 14 July 2022

Bowe’s Court Care Home is a care home providing accommodation and nursing and personal care to up to a maximum of 23 people. The service provides support to younger and older adults with a range of conditions such as Huntingdon's Disease and physical and learning disabilities. At the time of our inspection there were 22 people using the service.

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

People and relatives were complimentary about the care provided by staff. They trusted the staff who supported them. They said staff were kind, caring and supportive of people and their families. One relative said, “The staff are brilliant. It takes a special kind of person to do the job.”

Staff had received safeguarding training and were clear on how and when to raise their concerns. Where appropriate, actions were taken to keep people safe.

Records provided guidance to ensure people received safe, person-centred care and support from all staff members. Systems were in place for people to receive their medicines in a safe way.

Staffing capacity was sufficient and staff deployment was effective to ensure people's needs were met in a safe, timely way.

There was a cheerful atmosphere at the service. Staff spoke positively about working at the home and the people they cared for. Staff said the manager was approachable and they were supported in their role.

People received a variety of food and drink to meet their needs and any specialist diets were catered for.

There were opportunities for staff to receive training, to give them insight into people’s support needs.

People's diversity as unique individuals with their own needs was respected by staff. The staff team knew people well and provided support discreetly and with compassion. People’s privacy was respected, and people were supported to maintain contact with relatives.

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.

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 all the key questions the service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting some of the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. Systems were in place to ensure the right culture was being promoted. People’s human rights were respected and their opinions were listened to and valued. People were supported to make choices and achieve their aspirations. Staff adopted the ethos to provide person-centred care.

The service was following safe infection prevention and control procedures to keep people safe.

An effective quality assurance system was in place to assess the standards of care in the service.

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 29 May 2021).

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about staffing and people’s care. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the relevant key questions sections of this full report.

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.

Follow up

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