Queens Court

Updated 27 July 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.

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 two inspectors.

Service and service type

Queens Court is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Queens Court is a care home with nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

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

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 and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people, two relatives and six staff members, including ancillary staff, kitchen staff, maintenance personnel, care workers, a registered nurse, the deputy manager and the registered manager.

Updated 27 July 2022

About the service

Queens Court is a residential care home providing personal and nursing care to up to 43 people. The service provides support to older people and people with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 36 people using the service.

The care home accommodates people in one adapted building over three floors.

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

People continued to receive care and support to keep them safe. Risk management plans in place ensured staff knew how to mitigate identified risks. People’s medicines were managed safely. Staffing levels were adequate, and the provider had robust recruitment procedures in place to ensure suitable staff were employed. People benefitted from a service that learned lessons when things went wrong.

People received support from staff that were skilled in their roles and reflected on their working practices. Staff monitored people’s health and wellbeing and referral to healthcare specialists were made when required. People who had specialist dietary requirements were catered for.

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; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People and their relatives were positive about the care and support provided at Queens Court. Staff treated people with dignity and respect and wherever safe to do so encouraged their independence. Pre-admission assessments were undertaken to ensure the service could meet people’s needs.

People continued to receive care and support that was person-centred and planned in line with their wishes. The service had a full activities programme for people to participate in. People’s communication needs were recorded and catered for. Complaints were fully investigated, and action taken to reach a positive outcome for the complainant. People’s end of life wishes were documented and respected.

Systems in place supported the monitoring of the service. People, staff and their relatives were complimentary about the management of the service and told us the registered manager was approachable. The service sought people’s views and acted on them. The registered manager worked in partnership with healthcare professionals and relatives to drive improvements.

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

The last rating for this service was good. (Published 31 July 2019).

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection as part of a random selection of services rated Good and Outstanding.

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.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Queens Court on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

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