Background to this inspection
Updated
17 December 2021
The inspection
This was a targeted inspection to check on a specific concern we had about safe staffing levels and safe medicines management.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by an inspector and inspection manager.
Service and service type
Southwell Court is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that the provider is legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
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 safeguarding team who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with three people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the regional manager, the manager, a senior care worker, a care worker, and a housekeeper.
We reviewed a range of records. This included one person’s COVID-19 care plan and people’s medication records and risk assessments. We looked at a variety of COVID-19 and medicines policies and procedures.
Updated
17 December 2021
About the service
Southwell Court is a residential care home providing accommodation and personal care to 12 people aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection. The service can support up to 40 people. The home is built on two floors and has four units each with its own en-suite bedrooms and shared lounge/dining room and bathing facilities.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People living at Southwell Court were provided with good, personalised care by staff who were kind, compassionate, easy to talk to and reliable. People were happy at the home and felt safe. One person said, “I think it’s perfect. The care you get, and they understand you. I’ve no complaints whatsoever.” People’s relatives were very satisfied with the service provided to their family members. One relative said, “It’s excellent care, I don’t have any worries, it’s spotlessly clean and her needs are well met.”
People were encouraged to live the life they wanted to live and to remain as independent as they wanted to be. Staff understood how to support people’s privacy and dignity and provide the care each person wanted. Any concerns were listened to and addressed, and people’s wishes were considered as they approached the end of their life.
Staff were happy working at Southwell Court. They had undertaken training and were motivated, skilled and had the knowledge to provide the care and support people needed. They knew about keeping people as safe as possible and followed care plans and risk assessment guidelines to ensure no-one was put at risk. Staff supported people 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.
We were assured that staff followed infection prevention and control procedures to protect people from infection. Medicines were managed safely, and safety measures and checks were in place relating to the building and equipment.
The service was well-led by a manager who was always available when people, relatives and staff needed someone to talk to. The provider’s values were put into practice by the staff and governance systems ensured the service provided was of high quality. People, their relatives and staff were involved in improving the way the service was run and their voices were heard.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
This service was registered with us on 8 May 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection as the service had been open for 22 months and had not been inspected.
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.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.