Archived: St Dominics Court

Updated 28 March 2019

The inspection:

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.

Inspection team:

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type:

St Dominic’s Court is an extra care housing complex. The service provides care and support to predominantly older people, including people living with dementia, mental health problems and learning disabilities. It provides personal care to people living in their own flats in an extra care housing complex. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

The service had a manager registered with the CQC. 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.

What we did:

Prior to the inspection visit we gathered information from a number of sources. We also looked at the information received about the service from notifications sent to the CQC by the registered manager. We requested the provider to complete 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. We also spoke with other professionals who had involvement at the service, to gain further information about the service.

We spoke with twelve people who used the service when they were together in the communal area of the extra care housing complex. We also visited two people in their own flats, discussed their care plans and observed staff interactions. We also spoke with one relative.

We spoke with five staff including three care support workers, the team leader and the registered manager. We looked at documentation relating to two people who used the service, two staff files and information relating to the management of the service.

Updated 28 March 2019

About the service:

St Dominic’s court provides personal care to people who live in the community in an extra care housing complex. The extra care housing complex comprises of 44 flats. The service provides support to older people, including people living with dementia, mental health needs and people with a learning disability.

The care service had been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. The values of choice, promotion, independence and inclusion, which the guidance promotes were being provided for people who used the service at St Dominic's Court. This meant the people they supported with learning disabilities and autism were able to live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

On the day of our inspection 33 people were using the service.

People’s experience of using this service:

People were safe, processes and practices protected people from abuse, there were enough staff to ensure people’s needs were met. However, staff were covering shifts and recruitment of new staff was in progress. The recruitment followed safe practices. We observed staff had time to provide care and support in a positive way. People’s medicines were managed safely. Risks to people were identified and managed in a way that did not restrict their freedom. People were protected by the prevention and control of infection.

Staff supported people to make their own decisions and choices. Staff we spoke with were knowledgeable and understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act. Where people required support with diet this was provided by staff. People were supported to receive a nutritious and balanced diet. Staff received effective training to fulfil their roles and responsibilities and were supported.

People spoke positively about the care and support they received. People told us staff were kind and caring, maintained their dignity and respected them.

People received personalised care that was responsive to their needs. Care plans were developed with the people who used the service and included their decisions and choices. People were supported a the end of their lives.

There was a complaints procedure available which enabled people to raise any concerns or complaints about the care or support they received. People we spoke with said they had no concerns but would not hesitate to talk with staff if required.

People’s feedback was used to make changes to the service.

The home had a registered manager who conducted a range of audits in areas such as, medicine management, health and safety, care plans and daily records documentation. Actions raised as part of the audits were addressed.

More information in Detailed Findings below:

Rating at last inspection:

This was the first inspection since the new provider registered with CQC in February 2018.

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the registration date. The service has met the characteristics of Good in all key questions.