Amherst Court

Updated 6 July 2023

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 1 inspector.

Service and service type

Amherst Court 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. Amherst Court is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

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 (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 spent time looking around the service. We spoke to 7 people about their experience of living at the service and 7 members of staff. Staff included the area manager, the registered manager, deputy manager, 2 seniors and 2 carers.

We looked at documents relating to people care and support including 3 care plans and associated risk assessments. We looked at medicine administration processes and observed a medicine round. We looked at 4 medicine administration records (MAR). We checked 4 staff files for recruitment. We looked at documents relating to auditing, quality assurance, safeguarding and accidents and incidents.

Following the inspection we spoke with 4 relatives and contacted 4 professionals who regularly visited the service.

Updated 6 July 2023

About the service

Amherst Court is a residential care home providing personal care to up to a maximum of 15 people. The service provides support to people living with a range of mental health needs and some who require support living with Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, and early onset dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 14 people using the service.

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

People lived safely at the service and were protected from harm. Risks to people had been identified, were documented and managed with assessments of risk being reviewed monthly or more frequently if needed. Staff knew people well and were aware of people’s needs. Staff had been safely recruited. Medicines were stored, administered and recorded correctly by trained staff who received regular competency checks. Staff had access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and the service was clean throughout. Any trends, patterns and learning identified following accidents and incidents were shared with staff.

A pre-assessment meeting took place with people and their loved ones before moving into the service. The registered manager made sure that their staffing team had the right training and experience to be able to support people’s needs. New staff went through an induction period and support continued through regular supervision meetings. People were supported to make and keep health and social care appointments. The service was accessible throughout to everyone living there. People’s nutrition and hydration needs were met. 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 treated with kindness, respect and dignity. People’s privacy was respected and any cultural, faith or personal lifestyle choices were acknowledged and celebrated. People were encouraged and supported to be as independent with daily tasks as possible within a safe environment.

Care plans were held on a computer system and daily notes were inputted using handheld devices. Care plans were centred around people, highlighting what was achievable independently before going on to describe support needs. People’s communication needs were met, and staff provided activities to people either 1 to 1 or in small group sessions. Complaints and concerns raised by people and their relatives were dealt with appropriately. Staff had received training in end of life care.

The registered manager was a visible and a supportive presence at the service and everyone we spoke to spoke highly of them and the wider management team. Auditing processes were in place and people, their relatives and staff all had opportunities to provide feedback and suggestions about the service. Feedback was acted on by the registered manager.

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 24 April 2018)

Why we inspected

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

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.