Pitches View

Updated 29 April 2022

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. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service 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.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post, but they were not working on the day of our inspection. The inspection was supported by the operational manager and a registered manager from a nearby supported living service.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced. This was because people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of our inspection.

Inspection activity started on 28 March 2022 and ended on 4 April 2022. We visited the location’s office on 28 March 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make.

We looked at information we held about the service including notifications they had made to us about important events.

We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with nine people who used the service, some on the day of our visit but others we subsequently telephoned. We spoke with the operational manager, three team leaders, and three staff. We reviewed three people's care records, policies and procedures, records relating to the management of the service, training records and the recruitment records of two staff.

After the inspection

We contacted visiting professionals about their view of the support provided and continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate the evidence found.

Updated 29 April 2022

Pitches View provides extra care housing in a village near Southwold in Suffolk. It provides personal care to people living in their own flats in a sheltered housing complex. At the time of this announced inspection there were 32 people who used the personal care service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

There were enough staff to cover people's planned care visits. Recruitment checks were undertaken on staff prior to their appointment.

Risks were identified, and actions taken to mitigate harm, but the documentation would benefit from greater clarity. The provider had already identified that improvements could be made and was planning to implement a new recording system. Incidents and accidents were recorded and reviewed to identify learning. We have recommended that post falls monitoring is formalised.

Where people required support with their medicines, these were administered as prescribed. Checks were undertaken on medicine administration to reduce the risk of errors.

Infection control systems were in place to reduce the risks of cross infection and people told us that staff adhered to the guidelines.

Staff received training to develop their skills and knowledge. Competency assessments and observations of staff practice were completed regularly to monitor the quality of care provided to people.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff cared for them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Where people required support with their dietary needs, systems were in place to deliver this. People had access to health professionals where needed. The service worked with other organisations involved in people's care to promote people’s wellbeing.

People received care from staff who were kind and caring. People's dignity, privacy and independence were respected and promoted.

There were systems in place to ascertain people’s views and people felt listened to.

People received care and support from a consistent team of staff who knew them well. There were arrangements in place to support and care for people at the end of their lives, where required.

The service had a quality assurance system to monitor the quality and safety of the service. Where it was identified that improvements could be made a plan was put into place.

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 20 September 2018.)

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection as part of a random selection of services rated Good and Outstanding. We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this at all inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.