We carried out an announced inspection at Housing and Care 21 – Lea Court on the 26 July 2018. At the last inspection on 26 January 2017 we found that there were breaches in Regulations. Improvements were needed to ensure that there were effective systems in place to monitor and manage the service and the provider had not consistently notified us of incidents that had occurred at the service. Following the last inspection, we asked the provider to complete an action plan to show what they would do and by when to improve the key questions safe, effective, responsive and well led to at least good. At this inspection we found that improvements had been made in some areas. However, further improvements were still required.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 bought or 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.
People using the service lived in their own private flats in a large purpose-built building within the town of Madeley. The service is connected to a separately run community hub that has a café and food area and a hall where activities take place that people living within Lea Court are welcome to use.
Not everyone using Housing and Care 21 – Lea Court receives a regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.
The service had a registered manager. 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Improvements were needed to ensure that the systems in place to monitor the quality of the service provided were completed as required to identify concerns within the service. Records did not always contain accurate and up to date information.
We have made a recommendation about assessing and planning people’s diverse needs and advance care planning for people's end of life needs.
People were supported to eat and drink sufficient amounts and nutritional risks were assessed and monitored. People’s health was monitored and health professionals input was sought and followed where required.
Medicines were managed safely to ensure people were supported with their medicines as required.
Staff were aware of their responsibilities to protect people from the risk of harm. Staff knew people’s risks and supported them to remain as independent as possible whilst protecting their safety.
There were enough safely recruited staff available to meet people’s needs in a timely way and infection control measures were in place to protect people from the potential risk of cross infection.
People were supported to make decisions about their care in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005, which ensured people were supported in their best interests.
People were supported by caring and compassionate staff. People’s choices were promoted and respected by staff in a way that promoted people’s individual communication needs. People’s dignity was maintained and their right to privacy was upheld.
People were involved in the planning of their care and people received care from a consistent staff group in a way that met their individual needs and preferences.
People and relatives knew how to complain and the provider had a complaints procedure in place.
Feedback had been gained from people and relatives which had been acted on to improve the service. Staff were supported in their role and were given the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge.