Background to this inspection
Updated
14 December 2019
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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
Ellens Court Care Home 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, and both were looked at during this inspection.
Since the last inspection, Ellens Court Care Home has registered with CQC as a domiciliary care agency and supported living service. These services provide personal care to people living in their own homes, flats or specialist housing. However, no one was receiving the regulated activity of personal care at the time of the inspection.
The service had a manager who was registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
The inspection was unannounced.
What we did before the inspection
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with five people and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff. This included the registered manager, team leader, a senior care worker, cook and maintenance person.
We looked at one person’s care plan and multiple medicines records. We looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service including, staff training, health and safety records, meeting notes and audits.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at quality assurance records. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service.
Updated
14 December 2019
About the service
Ellens Court Care Home is a residential care home providing personal care for eight people with a learning disability. People could also have additional needs including mental health needs or an acquired brain injury. The service can support up to nine people. It is also registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. However, it was not providing this service at the time of the inspection.
The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
People’s experience of using this service
Staff knew people well and communicated in a way that made people feel safe. The staff team continued to understand how to recognise and report potential abuse to safeguard people.
People received their medicines when they needed them. Medicines continued to be managed safely. People were supported to access health care professionals to be able to maintain their physical and mental well-being. Meals were sociable occasions and people and staff sat together to discuss their day.
Staff continued to receive the training they required to be able to support people living at the service. Staff felt well supported by the management team.
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. There continued to be a balance between keeping people safe from harm and maintaining their independence.
Staffing levels ensured people led active lives and could follow their interests. People also had opportunities to spend time relaxing in their rooms or chatting to staff. People continued to be involved in all aspects of home life. This included cooking, furnishing their rooms and how they spent their time. People benefited from being supported by a staff team who understood their needs and preferences.
Systems to monitor and improve the quality of the service had been further developed. Their views and those of their relatives were sought about how the service could improve.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 17 March 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the rating at the last inspection.
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.