Archived: Juniper Court

Updated 13 November 2018

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 carried out to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection was carried out on 2 and 3 October 2018. We gave the service 24 hour’s notice of the inspection because it is small and we needed to be sure the registered manager, care staff and people using the service would be available. The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an expert by experience who spoke with people using the service via the telephone.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. As part of our planning for this inspection we looked at the PIR and records that were sent to us by the registered provider and the local authority to inform us of significant changes and events.

We looked at six people’s care plans, risk assessments and associated records. We reviewed documentation that related to staff management and recruitment. We looked at records of the systems used to monitor the safety and quality of the service. We also sampled the services’ policies and procedures.

We spoke with 14 people and seven people’s relatives. We spoke with the recruitment and wellbeing officer, the regional manager, the team leader, an activities coordinator, the registered manager and the manager.

This was the first inspection of this service since it was registered.

Updated 13 November 2018

Juniper Court 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, 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 using Juniper Court receives 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. Care and support was provided to people on a long or short term basis depending on individual’s needs. There were 33 people using the service at the time of the inspection.

This inspection was carried out on 2 and 3 October 2018. We gave the service 24 hours notice of the inspection because it is small and we needed to be sure that the registered manager, care staff and people using the service were available.

There was a manager in post who was registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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. There was another manager in post who had been delegated responsibility to manage general running of the service. This manager was in the process of applying to become the new registered manager.

People were protected from abuse and harm by staff that knew how to recognise the signs of abuse and report any concerns. Risks to individuals’ wellbeing and safety had been assessed and minimised. Staff knew how to reduce the risk of spreading infection when providing care.

People had their health needs met and were supported to access health care professionals as needed. They were provided with support to eat and drink well to meet their needs. People’s medicines were managed safely.

There were enough staff to meet people’s needs safely. Staff were provided with the training and qualifications they needed to care for people safely and effectively. Staff were appropriately supervised and supported in their roles.

People were asked for their consent before care was provided. The registered provider complied with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Staff were kind and caring and had developed positive relationships with the people they supported and their families. Staff treated people with dignity and respect and promoted their right to privacy. People were enabled to remain as independent as possible.

People were provided with personalised and flexible care. They were asked their views about how their care should be provided and these were recorded in their care plan. People’s views about the quality of the service were sought and suggestions were acted upon. People knew how make a complaint if they needed to and complaints were handled in a transparent and honest way.

The registered manager provided effective leadership and was aware of the risks and areas for development within the service. Effective quality assurance systems were used to identify shortfalls and action was taken to address these.