Hedgerow Court

Updated 30 June 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.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of one inspector and an Expert by Experience (ExE). An ExE is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Hedgerow Court provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built accommodation in a shared building. The accommodation is rented and is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care service.

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 registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced.

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

We visited the location on 22 April 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed the information we held about the service including notifications we had received. 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 five people using service, two relatives, a social worker and a pharmacist involved in the service. We also spoke to the registered manager, chief operations officer and three care staff, We looked at four care files, ten people’s medication administration records, three staff files, quality assurance reports and other records relating to the management of the service including incidents and accidents records.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at records related to the management of the service and we received feedback from two members of the local commissioning team.

Updated 30 June 2022

About the service

Hedgerow Court provides care and support to older people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection 23 people were using the service.

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

People felt safe at the service as there were procedures and systems in place that promoted their safety. Staff knew what to do if they thought somebody was at risk of abuse. People’s care needs, and risks were assessed before they started using the service; and reviewed regularly. Care plans detailed how people’s needs would be met and actions to minimise identified risks. People received their medicines safely. Incidents and accidents were reported, and the registered manager reviewed them and took actions to reduce a repeat of such incidents. Staff followed infection control procedures.

Staff received adequate training and regular support and supervision to do their jobs effectively. Staff were recruited safely and there were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Staff were kind and caring; and respected people’s dignity, privacy and independence. People were involved in their care. Staff supported people to access healthcare services they needed to maintain good health.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. People consented to their care before it was delivered. Staff and the provider understood their responsibilities to act within the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

People were supported to engage in activities and to socialise. People were supported to maintain their cultural and religious beliefs. Staff understood equality and diversity and promoted these. People communication needs were met. Information was provided to people in accessible formats.

There was a complaints procedure in place. People knew how to complain if they needed to. People told us the service was well run. Staff told us they had the leadership and direction they needed to do their jobs effectively.

The quality of the service was regularly assessed and monitored. The registered manager and staff demonstrated a commitment to their roles. The registered manager complied with the requirements of their registration.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 20 March 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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