Archived: Esther Randall Court

Updated 29 April 2021

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.

Inspection team

The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type:

This service is an Extra Care provision. At the time of inspection 29 people were using the 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

This inspection took place on 25 March 2021 and was unannounced, meaning the service did not know we were visiting until we arrived.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection.

During the inspection

During our visit, we spoke with the registered manager, the care co-ordinator and two care workers. We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records, four medication records and other records relating to the day to day management of the service.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data, policies and quality assurance records as well as confirmation of staff employment background checks.

Updated 29 April 2021

Esther Randall Court is an Extra Care provision operated by One Housing Group Ltd. 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. Not everyone living at Esther Randall Court received a regulated activity. At the time of the inspection, personal care support was being provided to 20 people.

At the last inspection on 9 December 2015, the service was rated Good in all key questions and overall. At this inspection we found the rating for the service remained Good but it was rated Requires improvement in well-led.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The registered manager had relevant experience and training to provide regulated activity.

The registered manager had not informed the CQC about one safeguarding concern and an incident that was reported to the police as required by law. The failure of not notifying the CQC of such incidences without undue delay is a breach of regulation 18 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Registration) Regulations 2009. We are considering taking action against the provider for failing to meet regulations. Full information about CQC’s regulatory responses to any concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.

People were protected from harm and abuse. Staff received training and understood their role in relation to safeguarding people. Safeguarding had been discussed with people in tenants’ meetings and written about in the service’s newsletter. Tenant’s meeting was the term used at this service for the meetings attended by people who used the service. Therefore, we have used this term throughout the report.

The service provided safe care and support to people who used it. Risks to people’s health and wellbeing had been assessed and staff had guidelines on how to support people safely. The service had a system in place for the management of medicines and people were supported to take their medicines safely and as intended by the prescriber. The service dealt appropriately with accident and incidents and actions were taken to reduce the possibility of them reoccurring. Appropriate recruitment procedure ensured people were protected from unsuitable staff.

People’s needs and preferences were assessed prior to them moving into the service. There was a comprehensive assessment process, which involved people, which ensured that people received support that met their needs and personal preferences.

People were cared for by staff who received appropriate training and support from their managers. Staff skills were regularly assessed to ensure they knew how to support people in a safe and effective way.

The service helped people to live a healthy life. Staff supported people to have a nutritious diet that met people’s needs and preferences. When people’s health needs changed staff ensured people had access to respective external health professionals and services.

The service had worked within the principles of the Mental Capacity Assessment 2005 (MCA) and staff sought people’s consent before supporting them.

There was a peaceful atmosphere at the service and staff who supported people behaved in a kind and caring way. People told us they felt looked after by staff at all times.

People said they were involved in planning and reviewing their care and they had their say in how this care was provided. When people had any complaints about the service provision, the management team had dealt with these complaints promptly and to people’s satisfaction.

People, staff and external social care and health professionals spoke positively about the management team and how they thought the service was led.

The management team had systems in place to monitor staff performance and various elements of the service provision. Regular audits helped to identify any gaps in the service delivery. Actions were taken by the management team to ensure good quality of the care and support at all times.