Elizabeth Court

Updated 17 November 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 was carried out by three inspectors.

Service and service type

Elizabeth 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. Elizabeth 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 not a registered manager in post. A new manager had been in post for five weeks and had applied to register with CQC. We are currently assessing this application.

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

During our inspection, we spoke with five people who lived at the service and four relatives. We also spoke with 11 staff, which included the district manager, the manager, the deputy manager as well as care, catering and housekeeping staff.

We reviewed documentation in relation to the care of people, as well as the running of the service. This included six care plans in varying detail, medicines records, audits and policies. We also looked at four recruitment files for staff.

Following our inspection, the registered manager sent us further information we had requested which included information on activities, their staff supervision calendar, infection control training evidence and updates on action taken following our inspection. We also received written feedback from two relatives.

Updated 17 November 2022

About the service

Elizabeth Court is a purpose-built residential care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to a maximum of 59 people. The service has three floors which are divided into separate living areas, each with their own dining room and lounge. The service provides support to people living with dementia, or with long term health conditions. At the time of our inspection there were 42 people using the service.

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

People were well cared for by staff at the service, although we identified some inconsistencies in relation to the level of engagement and activities on offer to people. We have made a recommendation to the registered provider in respect of this.

People were happy living at Elizabeth Court and told us staff were kind and caring towards them. Relatives reporting feel their family member was well cared for and said they knew who to talk to should they have any concerns.

People lived in an environment that was suitable for their needs. Rooms were personalised and homely and the premises were checked for their safety.

People were safe with staff. Staff identified potential risks to people and took action to help prevent accidents or incidents. Staff knew how to recognise and report safeguarding concerns.

People received the medicines they required and were supported to access healthcare professional input when needed. People were monitored to help ensure they maintained a good level of health and provided with a sufficient amount and choice of food and drink to support this.

People were cared for by trained staff who were appropriately deployed around the service. People said they did not have to wait to receive care, but they were also encouraged to remain independent and make their own choices in their care.

Staff knew people well and provided individualised care to people. People’s social histories were used to help develop activities they liked and the manager planned further opportunities for people, such as external outings.

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.

The manager was making a good impression at the service as relative’s told us she was responsive to them and staff said they felt supported. The manager had plans for where she wished to take the service and had already created links with the local community to broaden people’s experiences.

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 (report published 19 September 2020).

Why we inspected

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

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

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