Background to this inspection
Updated
13 October 2021
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 Care Act 2014.
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.
Inspection team
This inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or 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 and support service.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
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. 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. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with four people who used the service and two people’s relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the regional manager, registered manager, scheme manager and care workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the registered manager to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.
Updated
13 October 2021
About the service
Guardian Homecare (Lighthouse View) is registered to provide personal care to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. At Lighthouse View there are 72 self-contained flats. There are also two communal areas on the ground floor and gardens that people can use if they wish. At the time of this inspection, there were 32 people living at Lighthouse View who were supported with personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People felt safe and were protected against the risk of abuse. People received support from a consistent team of staff who knew them well. Staff were recruited safely and there were enough of them to meet people’s needs. Where people were supported to take their medicines, staff did so safely. The provider had robust infection prevention and control procedures to protect people from cross infection. We have made a recommendation about reporting accidents and incidents.
People’s needs were thoroughly assessed before they received support to ensure they received the support they required. People received care from staff who were trained, competent and well-supported to carry out their role. Staff provided the support people needed with meals and drinks. The service worked with healthcare services to ensure people received the support they needed to maintain and improve their health. People made decisions about their care and their rights were protected. 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.
People were supported by staff who were kind and caring. People spoke highly of the staff who supported them and the service as a whole. Staff respected and promoted people’s privacy, dignity and independence. Staff asked people for their views about their care and respected the decisions they made.
The service was responsive to people’s needs and took account of their preferences. People received person-centred care. The provider had an effective procedure for receiving and responding to complaints about the service. The service could support people to remain at home as they reached the end of life.
The registered manager had developed a positive, person-centred culture within the service. The registered manager and staff team were committed to providing people with high-quality care. The registered manager understood their responsibilities under the duty of candour. The provider used feedback and the results of audits to continually 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
This was the first inspection for the service.
Why we inspected
This service was registered with us on 16 March 2020 and this is the first inspection.
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.