Updated 23 July 2019
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector and one expert by experience. The expert by experience had personal experience of caring for someone who used this type of care service.
Service and service type
Human Support Group Limited - Appleton Lodge provides care and support to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. The accommodation is rented and is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support service.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). 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
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit to ensure someone would be available to speak with us and show us records.
Inspection activity started on 5 June 2019 and ended on 10 June 2019. We visited the office location on 6 June 2019.
What we did before inspection
We checked the information we held about this location and the provider, for example, inspection history, statutory notifications and complaints.
We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return (PIR). 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 contacted professionals involved in caring for people who used the service, including commissioners, safeguarding officers and social workers. We also contacted the local Healthwatch and no concerns had been raised with them about the service. Healthwatch is the local consumer champion for health and social care services. They give consumers a voice by collecting their views, concerns and compliments through their engagement work. Information provided by these professionals was used to inform the inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with five people who used the service and five relatives. We spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager, regional director, head of compliance, four care staff and an activities co-ordinator.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care and medicine records. We looked at the personnel files for three staff and records related to the management of the service.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. The registered manager and provider sent us various information requested in a timely manner.