The Cannons

Updated 1 October 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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing.

Registered Manager

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

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 17 August 2022 and ended on 02 September 2022. We visited the service on 18 August 2022 and 19 August 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since its registration. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with eight members of staff including the registered manager and care staff. We reviewed a range of records. This included six people’s care records, three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision and a variety of records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 1 October 2022

About the service

The Cannons provides care 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 the occupant's own home and people's care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate the premises used for extra care housing. This inspection looked at people’s personal care service. At the time of the inspection 50 people were receiving support with their personal care.

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.

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

People and their relatives told us staff were sometimes rushed when providing care and people did not always receive consistent care from staff who understood their needs. The provider told us new staff had been recently recruited and staff confirmed there were now more staff available. This was beginning to have a positive impact on the amount of time available to support people; however, this was not yet fully embedded.

The provider had processes in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service. However, these had not always been used effectively to ensure there was clear oversight of the service. Risks to people’s safety were assessed; however, information had not always been reviewed to ensure it remained accurate. People’s care plans had not always been updated to ensure all relevant information was included.

The provider had processes in place to ensure staff were safely recruited and received training relevant to their roles. Staff told us the registered manager had not always been available to offer support due to them managing different services and having to cover shifts. However, staff confirmed this had recently improved and they were now feeling more supported. They told us the culture of the service was more positive, with improved morale and the team working together better.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests. However, the policies and systems in the service did not always support this practice as people’s care plans did not always contain detailed information about how they consented to care. The provider was in the process of addressing this at the time of the inspection.

Staff were aware of how to keep people safe from harm and knew how to report concerns. The provider had sent notifications and shared information with the relevant authorities when appropriate. People and relatives told us they knew who to speak to if they had any concerns or complaints.

Guidance was available for staff to support people safely with their medicines. People were encouraged to maintain as much independence as possible and the provider worked alongside other healthcare professionals to support people’s care needs.

People and relatives told us staff were generally kind and caring and were respectful of people’s privacy. Relatives felt involved in people’s care and told us the registered manager and staff team were generally available and approachable.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 20 January 2020. This is their first inspection under the current provider.

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was good, published on 12 January 2018.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection as the service had not been rated under the current provider.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.