We carried out a review of the data available to us about Alexandra Court Residential Home on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Alexandra Court Residential Home, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice:
Staff and people at the home were part of a testing and immunisation programme for COVID-19. Staff had been trained in the use of PPE and were observed to be using it appropriately on the inspection.
People had been supported to keep in touch with their family and friends during the pandemic. This included using technology to support video calls. The home had created a visiting pod with a large Perspex screen to enhance safety.
Appropriate arrangements were in place for new admissions to the home, such as requesting confirmation of a negative COVID-19 test before each person moved into the home and following the guidance in terms of isolating once there for 14 days.
We observed the home to be clean and tidy. Cleaning products were used in line with the manufactures guidance to ensure effective use.
Risk assessments were completed where certain groups may be at higher risk of harm from contracting COVID-19. The registered manager regularly researched best practice and sought advice to ensure they were following the most up to date guidance. Regular infection control audits were undertaken to ensure standards were maintained.
We were assured that this service met good infection prevention and control guidelines.
Alexandra Court Residential Home is registered to provide accommodation for up to 24 people requiring assistance with personal care. During our inspection there were 22 people living in the service. Alexandra Court Residential Home is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.
There was a registered manager in post. 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 observed practice and documentation that showed us all staff do more than that is asked of them to support people and make their lives better. Staff were extremely caring in their day to day practice and we saw this had a positive impact on people.
People and their relatives were passionate about their positive responses about the service they or their loved ones received. We found multiple examples of positive recollections and stories about relatives loved ones living at Alexandra Court Residential Home. The service had safe systems in place for the ordering, receipt, and disposal of medicines. One medicine was given incorrectly and the temperature of the medicines store room had been too high in the past. We made a recommendation about following their recent pharmacists report.
There was a comprehensive programme of quality audits managed by the registered manager. These included health and safety, infection prevention and control and a kitchen audit. The service had received a 5-star rating from the Food Standards Agency.
There was enough suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of people living in the home. People’s individual needs were monitored and staffing levels altered when needs changed.
People, staff and relatives spoke positively about the registered manager and provider. Staff said that the registered manager was approachable and they felt comfortable to speak with the provider if the registered manager was absent.
A copy of the providers complaints policy was freely available. There had been no formal complaints about the service in 2018. People told us they knew how to complain and felt confident to do so.
People were offered a variety of food and drink, with meals and experiences being built around specific types of food. We observed wine being served with lunch.
People were 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.
People were recruited in a safe way and had their background checked at the time of employment. During our inspection, we made a recommendation to the provider around renewing background checks (Disclosure and Barring Service) after employment.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
This inspection took place on 15 January 2016 and was unannounced. At the last inspection in October 2013 we found the provider was meeting the regulations we looked at.
Alexandra Court Residential Home provides care and support for up to 24 older people. The service had a registered manager. 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.
During the inspection there was a happy and friendly atmosphere. People enjoyed the company of staff who often sat and chatted to them. People told us the service was caring and they received person centred care.
People lived in a clean, very pleasant, comfortable and homely environment. Furniture and fabrics were of a good standard. Throughout the home there were lots of touches to create a homely feeling such as fresh flowers and lots of pictures on the walls.
Staff knew people well and understood how to meet people’s needs. People were involved in making decisions about their care. Care planning and assessment was generally effective. People engaged in social activities and the provider was looking at how these could be broadened.
People felt safe. Systems were in place to keep people were safe, which included protecting them from abuse. Checks were carried out to make sure the environment was safe. We found a small number of areas when we looked around the home that needed addressing to mitigate risk. For example, bath hot water outlets were not regulated. The provider told us they would take prompt action. People were protected against the risks associated with medicines because the provider had appropriate arrangements in place to manage medicines.
People received a varied and nutritious diet and enjoyed the meals. They received good support to make sure their nutritional and health needs were appropriately met.
There were enough staff who were skilled and experienced to meet people’s needs. Staff were supported to do their job well. Robust recruitment checks were carried out before staff started working at the home.
The service had good management and leadership. The home’s management team promoted quality and safety and had good systems in place to help ensure this was achieved. They worked alongside everyone so understood what happened in the service. People were encouraged to share their views and contributed to the running of the home.
People had no concerns about their care but were informed how to make a complaint if they were unhappy with the service they received.
Below is a summary of what we found. The summary is based on observing care, speaking with people who used the service and their relatives, the staff supporting them and from looking at records.
The detailed evidence supporting our summary can be read in our full report.
Is the service safe?
People who used the service were protected from the risk of abuse, because the provider had taken reasonable steps to identify the possibility of abuse and prevent abuse from happening. Staff had received safeguarding training and could identify types of abuse and knew what to do if they needed to report any incidents. Staff said they were confident that people who used the service were protected from abuse. They said any untoward practices would not be tolerated and would be dealt with promptly.
Care records contained good information about how people's needs should be met and identified how care and support should be delivered. Daily communication records showed that people received appropriate care to meet their identified needs.
We found the location to be meeting the requirements of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. People's human rights were recognised, respected and promoted.
Is the service effective?
The provider supported staff to deliver care to an appropriate standard. Training records showed that appropriate training was being delivered. We looked at a training plan which showed individual training needs were taken into consideration when training was planned. Staff we spoke with told us everyone worked well together and they felt well supported.
Is the service caring?
We spoke with seven people who used the service. Everyone said they were happy with the care and support they received. One person said, 'I'm being more than well looked after.' Another person said, 'Everyone is very kind to me and I'm very happy here.'
We spoke with one relative who told us they were very happy with the service. They said, 'People here are really well looked after. It's a very good home.'
We spent time observing care being provided to people. During these observations we noted staff made efforts to offer people choice. At breakfast and lunch people were asked what they would like to eat and drink, and if they would like additional portions. Staff noticed when people needed assistance and provided appropriate support. Staff were friendly, polite and treated people in a respectful way.
Is the service responsive?
We spoke with three visiting healthcare professionals who told us people's healthcare needs were met and the home provided very good care. One person said, 'People are definitely well looked after. I visit lots of homes and this is the best. People are doing activities and encouraged to join in. We get a good response when we ask them to do things and we know it will be done. When I visit I know people here are happy.' Another person said, 'It's the nicest place I've ever been to and it feels like it's their home. People look smart. The staff are very good and it feels like they work as a team.'
People expressed their views and were involved in making decisions about their care. We spoke with seven people who used the service and they told us they could make decisions about their care and support. They said they chose when to get up, when to go to bed, where to sit and what to wear. One person said, 'My favourite meal of the day is breakfast so I look forward to getting up. It's up to me but I usually get up around 7 o'clock. The staff asked me if I would like a bath this morning. I said I'd like one this afternoon so that's what's happening.' Another person said, 'I wake up on a morning and get up when I'm ready. The staff are so cheerful and will do anything; nothing is too much trouble.' Another person said, 'This is my home.'
Is the service well led?
The provider had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of the service that people received. We looked at a selection of reports which showed the provider had assessed and monitored the quality of service provision.
We spoke with six staff who told us the management team spent time working alongside staff, so understood what happened at the home. One member of staff said, 'Not only am I supported well at work the manager is really understanding with things that happen outside of work.' Another member of staff said, 'We get fantastic support. They go above and beyond. It's teamwork that makes us so successful.'
A relative told us they were very happy with the service provided and there was 'consistent kindness'. A visiting healthcare professional said, 'Everyone is very well looked after, staff are welcoming, people get good care. They ring me if they are worried about anything and always follow advice.'
There were enough staff with the right skills and experience to meet people's needs. Staff told us people received good care and they had sufficient time to support people properly.
The provider had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of the service that people received. We looked at a number of assessments and audits which showed regular checks were carried out to help make sure people who used the service benefitted from safe quality care.
In the main, appropriate arrangements were in place for managing medicines although some procedures for the safe administration of medicines were not always effective.
We saw staff speaking with people who used the service in a warm and friendly manner. We asked people who used the service what they thought about the care they received. One said 'Could not be better, the food is good and the staff are kind.' A relative we spoke with said 'It's wonderful, you cannot fault it.'
We saw that people gave their consent before they received care or treatment. Their care and treatment was planned in a way that met their individual needs and kept them safe. A member of the staff told us 'I like caring for people and making them smile.'
We saw that the home was kept clean and tidy. The carpets and furnishing were free from stains and there were no unpleasant odours. One person told us that the staff kept the home 'Spotless.'
The provider ensured that people were cared for by suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff. The staff told us that they were well supported by the managers. One member of staff said 'It's a lovely place. The staff work well as a team.'
We saw that the provider encouraged people to make suggestions about the service. We saw a Candy Cart, where residents could buy snacks, had been provided in response to suggestions made by people who used the service.
The people we spoke to told us that staff treated them with respect and their dignity was maintained.
People who use the service told us they were happy with the care provided. One person said, 'They're lovely.' Another person said, 'Staff are nice.'
We spoke to a member of staff from the community nursing service who was also very complimentary about the service. They said, 'I'd put my parents here. I've been coming here for years and the standard is consistently high.'
Staff said people receive good care; their independence is promoted and their dignity is upheld. Staff said people can choose when they go to their room. After lunch we observed several people going to their room to rest. Staff also said they encouraged people to choose what to what to wear for the day.
People spoke highly of the manager. One person said, 'She's one of the nicest people I've met; she's a wonderful person.'