Sherwood Court

Updated 16 March 2021

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.

As part of CQC’s response to the coronavirus pandemic we are looking at the preparedness of care homes in relation to infection prevention and control. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection control and prevention measures the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 23 February 2021 and was announced.

Updated 16 March 2021

About the service

Sherwood court is a residential nursing home providing nursing and personal care for up to 68 older people and or people living with a dementia. At the time of the inspection 57 people were living at the service. The service was purpose built over two floors; split into two units. People had access to communal areas and bathrooms on both floors, all bedrooms were of single occupancy. The service was situated in a residential area of Preston, close to local amenities and public transport links.

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

Medicines were managed safely; staff had received the appropriate medicines training and competency checks. People told us they felt safe living at the service and investigations into allegations of abuse had been completed. Records confirmed the service shared lessons learned with the staff team. Staff had been recruited safely. We received mixed feedback about the staffing numbers in the service. The registered manager discussed their plans to introduce overlap shifts in the service. Staff had received training to support them in their role.

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. Consent to care and treatment had been recorded in people’s care files. People had access to relevant professionals to support their health needs where required.

People were supported with food and fluids. The registered manager took immediate action to amend a person’s nutritional record where an administration error was noted. The service had been developed to meet the needs of people. A large refurbishment was planned for early 2020.

People received good care; we observed staff offering timely and appropriate support to people. People told us they were supported to be independent and choices were offered to them.

Care files had been developed and some people we spoke with confirmed they had been involved in their development. A range of activities were available to people in the service. People’s individual and diverse needs were considered. Complaints were investigated and acted upon appropriately. Positive feedback about the service was seen.

We received positive feedback about the registered manager and the changes since she came to post. A range of audits were taking place and we saw senior management visited the service regularly. The service was open and transparent with the inspection and requests for information was provided promptly.

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

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 17 December 2018) where there was a breach of regulations in relation to recording of consent and the management of medicines. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.