Truscott House

Updated 17 June 2022

The inspection:

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

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 team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type:

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.

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection:

This inspection was announced. We gave the provider 24 hours’ notice because people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us. Inspection activity started and ended on 6 May 2022 when we visited the location’s office.

What we did before the inspection:

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We reviewed statutory notifications submitted by the provider. Statutory notifications contain information providers are required to send to us about significant events that take place within services. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection:

We spoke with two people using the service and two relatives, three care support workers, the registered manager and the nominated individual. We observed interactions between people and staff. We reviewed a range of records including three people’s care records, medicines administration records and other records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 17 June 2022

About the service

Truscott House was previously known as London Care (Truscott House). London Borough of Croydon took back the management and operation of the service from the previous care provider in January 2020.

Truscott House provides personal care and support to people living in self-contained flats located in a single building. This is known as extra care housing and is operated by an independent housing provider which is also the London Borough of Croydon. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of this inspection there were 19 people being provided with personal care and support by the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People felt safe at the service and staff understood how to keep people safe through understanding safeguarding procedures and how to manage risks to individuals to keep them safe. There were enough staff to support people and staff recruitment procedures were suitable to check staff were safe to work with people. Staff followed best practice in reducing the risk of infections such as COVID-19. The provider was not responsible for maintaining the premises, but they liaised closely with the landlord to ensure health and safety and cleanliness standards were maintained. People received the right support in relation to their medicines.

Staff received the training and support they needed to meet people’s needs. People were supported to maintain their mental and physical health and to maintain contact with professionals involved in their care. People received food and drink of their choice. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People liked the care staff and developed good relationships with them as staff knew them well. People were supported to improve their independent living skills as far as possible and staff treated people with dignity and respect.

People were involved in their care and the provider ensured their needs and preferences were reflected in their care plans through liaising with them and their relatives. People were supported to do activities they were interested in and to maintain relationships with the people important to them. Relatives could visit family members without unnecessary restrictions. People were encouraged to raise any concerns or complaints which the provider investigated and responded to appropriately.

The registered manager notified CQC of significant events, such as allegations of abuse, as required by law. The registered manager and staff understood their role and responsibilities. The provider communicated openly with people and staff through regular meetings and surveys. Staff felt well supported by the registered manager. The provider undertook checks to monitor, review and improve the quality and safety of the service and addressed any issues found promptly.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 3 January 2020 and this was the first inspection.

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was Good, published on 10 April 2019.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all 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, which will help inform when we next inspect.