Alexandra Court - Cleveleys

Updated 16 December 2020

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 planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

We received information of concern about infection control and prevention measures at this service. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 25 November 2020 and was unannounced.

Updated 16 December 2020

Alexandra Court is an unusual establishment in that it is a care home for older people, providing single apartments with lounges and kitchens for each person. There are a several communal areas for people to make use of including spacious lounges, dining room, gardens and a large conservatory. The service provides personal care and support for people with a wide range of needs and abilities on a 24-hour basis, including waking watch care throughout the night. The home is registered to provide accommodation for a maximum of 37 people. At the time of our inspection 34 people were living at the home.

At the last inspection, the service was rated good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

Alexandra Court is a 'care home.' People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, both of which we looked at during this inspection.

A registered manager was in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission 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.

We received consistently positive feedback about how caring the service was and how staff went over and above expectations to make sure people were at the centre of how the service was delivered.

We saw there was an emphasis on promoting dignity, respect and independence for people supported by the service. People were treated as individuals and received care that was centred on their individual and collective needs, abilities and wishes.

People who lived at the home told us they enjoyed a variety of activities and trips out which were organised for their entertainment. The service supported people to continue their involvement in groups and activities in the wider community. The service recognised people’s interests, talents and skills and provided an environment where they were fostered and celebrated their successes and triumphs.

People who lived at the home told us they were happy, felt safe and were treated with kindness at all times.

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’s care and support had been planned with them or, where appropriate, others acting on their behalf. They had been consulted and listened to about how their care would be delivered.

Care plans were detailed, organised and had identified care and support people required. We found they were informative about care people had received.

The service had systems in place to record safeguarding concerns, accidents and incidents and take necessary action as required. Staff had received safeguarding training and understood their responsibilities to report unsafe care or abusive practices.

Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of harm to people during the delivery of their care. These had been kept under review and were relevant to the care provided.

Staff had been recruited safely, appropriately trained and supported. They had skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and social needs.

Staff responsible for assisting people with their medicines had received training to ensure they had the competency and skills required. Where people chose to manage their own medicines, they were supported to do so.

We looked around the building and found it had been maintained, was clean and hygienic and a safe place to live. We found equipment had been serviced and maintained as required.

The service had safe infection control procedures in place. People who lived at the home told us they were happy with the standards of hygiene.

People told us they were happy with the variety and choice of meals available to them. We saw regular snacks and drinks were provided between meals to ensure people received adequate nutrition and hydration.

People were supported to have access to healthcare professionals and their healthcare needs had been met. People told us staff acted quickly if they were unwell, to seek professional advice.

People told us staff were caring towards them. They told us staff who supported them treated them with respect and dignity. Staff we spoke with understood the importance of high standards of care to give people meaningful lives.

The service had information with regards to support from an external advocate should this be required by people they supported.

The service had a complaints procedure which was available to people who used the service and their relatives. The people we spoke with told us they were happy with the service and had no complaints.

The service used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of the service. These included regular audits, resident meetings and satisfaction surveys to seek their views about the service provided.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.