Victoria Court

Updated 7 April 2018

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, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 26 February 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection visit 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.

We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also checked the information we held about the service and the provider. This included notifications the provider had sent to us about significant events at the service. We reviewed the quality monitoring report that the local authority had sent to us. All this information was used to formulate our inspection plan.

We spoke with seven people who used the service and eight relatives. We also observed how staff interacted with people who used the service. We did this to understand people’s experience of living at the service. We also spoke with a health care professional during the inspection and another health care professional after the inspection. Their comments have been reflected within the report.

We spoke with four members of care staff, a senior care staff member, the activities coordinator, the cook, the deputy and the registered manager. The regional manager was also present for the inspection. We looked at a range of information, which included the staff training records, and care records for five people who used the service. We also looked at the systems the provider had in place to ensure the quality of the service was continuously monitored, these included audits relating to medicines, the control of infection and the ongoing improvements to the home.

Updated 7 April 2018

Victoria Court is a residential care home for 40 people who are elderly and some people were living with dementia. The home is arranged over three floors. Each floor has bedrooms, with shared bathrooms and dinning space. A number of rooms have ensuite facilities and kitchenettes. The ground floor has a large lounge area with a bar and a quiet space sectioned off with a reading area. At the time of the inspection 33 people were using the service.

At our last inspection we rated the service ‘Good’. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of ‘Good’ . 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.

The service continued to keep people safe. Staff had received training and knew how to keep people safe from harm. Risk assessments had been completed and there was guidance to reduce any risks. There were sufficient staff to support people’s needs and be responded to in a timely manner. Medicines were managed safety and people were supported to remain independent in this area if they wished. Measures were taken to reduce the risk of infection and lessons had been learnt from events.

The service continues to be effective. People were able to make choices about their day. People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice. The staff had received training for their role and felt able to implement the skills they had acquired. People’s health had been maintained and their wellbeing promoted. The atmosphere was homely and people could personalise their bedrooms.

People received Good care. The home provided a feeling of person-centred culture, with people at the heart of the care being delivered. All the people we spoke with said the care they received was individual, caring and compassionate. Staff promoted peoples independence and had the opportunity to develop relationships with people and family members .People’s dignity was respected and support offered when required to support people’s decisions. People spiritual needs had been supported, along with different methods of communication.

The service continues to be responsive. People were supported in accordance to their needs and preferences. Care plans provided details covering all aspects of the person’s needs. When people required support, this was available. Things of interest were available and people enjoyed the activities offered and were able to contribute to the ongoing programme of events. There was a complaint’s policy which had been followed when concerns had been raised.

The service continues to be welled. There was a registered manager who understood their registration. Staff felt supported and people had been consulted about the home. Improvements were on going and were supported by a range of audits and methods to identify how the home can continue to develop. A range of professionals had been involved in the service to develop good partnerships.

Further information is in the detailed findings below