Wood Court

Updated 1 February 2022

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 COVID-19 pandemic we are looking at how services manage infection control and visiting arrangements. This was a targeted inspection looking at the infection prevention and control measures the provider had in place. We also asked the provider about any staffing pressures the service was experiencing and whether this was having an impact on the service.

This inspection took place on 25 January 2022 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection.

Updated 1 February 2022

About the service

Wood Court provides a support and care service for up to 39 people over the age of 55 living in self- contained one-bedroom flats. The service is delivered within an extra care housing scheme commissioned by the London Borough of Barnet by care staff who are on site 24 hours a day. The Care Quality Commission regulates the personal care service provided to tenants. On the day of our inspection there were 29 people receiving a personal care service.

Not everyone using the service receives regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided

People’s experience of using this service

People told us people they were very happy living at the scheme because they felt safe and all their needs were met by kind and caring staff.

People praised the managers of the service and agreed that they were approachable, knowledgeable, fair and did their job well. The staff team worked well together and supported the registered manager.

The staff team was committed to providing a high-quality service and keeping people safe. They had undertaken training so that they were skilled and knowledgeable to effectively meet people’s needs. Staff understood their responsibilities to report any concerns.

Staff encouraged people to be as independent as possible and respected people’s privacy and dignity. Staff knew people well. Staff managed the risks to people’s health and welfare.

People were given choices about the way in which they were cared for. Staff listened to them and knew their needs well.Care plans contained detailed information about each person’s individual support needs and preferences in relation to their care and we found evidence of good outcomes for people. When people did not have the capacity to make their own decisions, staff maximised their involvement and made decisions in their best interests, in accordance with legislation.

Staffing levels were enough to meet people’s needs. Recruitment practices were safe and relevant checks had been completed before staff worked at the service.

Medicines were managed safely.

People continued to receive a service that was responsive to their individual needs and preferences. Some people had complex needs and staff involved other professionals, to ensure they gained a full understanding of the factors influencing each person and further developed an individualised approach to their care. They had access to a range of activities and were encouraged to participate in events in the local community.

The managers of the service actively sought the views of people and their relatives about the running of the scheme and they dealt promptly with any concerns that people raised.

The provider had a number of systems in place to monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service provided.

More information is in the full report.

Rating at last inspection

At the last inspection we rated this service Good. The report was published on 21 December 2016.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor this service.