Neale Court

Updated 2 April 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 the COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements.

This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had 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 31 of January 2022 and was unannounced.

Updated 2 April 2022

About the service

Neal Court is a residential care home that was providing accommodation and personal care to 20 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 23 people.

The service was provided in purpose built accommodation arranged over two floors. It consisted of 23 self contained flats with en-suite bathrooms and a small kitchenette, in addition to a living and sleeping area.

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

People told us they were happy with the service they received. They spoke of the homely feel and happy atmosphere. One person said, “I don’t regret coming here for a minute. This, to me is home and we are well looked after.” Staff were caring and we observed kind interactions with people using the service. People knew the staff well and by their names.

Processes were in place to protect people from avoidable harm and abuse. Staff were aware of their responsibilities in relation to this and were clear about the way to escalate any concerns they identified. When accidents or incidents occurred, learning was identified to reduce the risk of them happening again. Sufficient staff were available to provide a timely response to people and provide safe care. People received their medicines as prescribed and medicines were managed safely.

People continued to receive effective care. Staff received training relevant to their roles and had regular supervision and an annual appraisal. People had access to healthcare services when required. 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. Consent to care was gained in line with legislation.

Staff were responsive to people’s individual needs and wishes and the service was provided flexibly. People were involved as much as possible in decisions about their care. People had access to a range of activities based on their preferences in the home and in the local community.

The service continued to be well led. There was clear leadership and people told us they could speak with staff or the manager if there were issues. Systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service and the care provided and actions were taken to continuously improve 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 1 July 2017)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.