Huntingdon Court

Updated 8 August 2023

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 1 inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

Huntingdon Court is a ‘care home’. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Huntingdon Court is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided, and both were looked at during this inspection.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority who work with the service. 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 used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 9 people using the service and 4 relatives. We spoke with the registered manager, the operations manager, the activity organiser, 2 care team leaders, a care assistant and a person from the housekeeping team. We reviewed a range of records. This included 5 people's care records and multiple medication records.

We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and a variety of records relating to the management of the service. Following our site visit the provider continued to provide information, which included data to support quality assurance and staff training.

Updated 8 August 2023

About the service

Huntingdon Court is a care home providing accommodation and personal care for up to 43 people aged 65 and over who may also be living with dementia. At the time of our inspection 30 people were using the service. Accommodation is provided over the ground and first floor with communal lounges and dining areas being located on both floors.

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

Potential risks related to people’s care, health and welfare were assessed and kept under review. People’s records included clear guidance for staff, as to how people’s needs were to be met to promote their health, welfare and safety. There were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs. Staff had undergone a robust recruitment process and had the necessary skills and experience.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrict way possible and in their best interests. However, one person’s record did not include a best interest decision for a specific aspect of their medicine management. People’s medicines were managed safely, supported by clear guidance and protocols.

Lessons were learnt and improvements made through the analysis and reporting of accidents and incidents. Systems and processes for the reporting of safeguarding concerns, were in place and were understood by staff. There were safe infection and preventions measures in place.

People’s needs were recorded in personalised care plans, considering all aspects of their care, which included information as to people’s wishes regarding end of life care, and clinical decisions should their health deteriorate.

Opportunities were available for people to take part in group or individual activities. We saw people laughing and speaking with each other and joining in with the activities. Relatives spoke of the positive impact on their family member of spending time with others. People expressed confidence in raising concerns, and complaints were investigated as per the provider’s policy.

The appointment of a registered manager, supported by a wider management team had brought about improvements to the quality and safety of the service people received. Quality monitoring through internal audits and oversight had improved. Plans were put into place where improvements were needed and were monitored for progress.

People spoke positively about the care they received, which included the kind and caring approach of staff. Staff spoke positively of the inclusivity of approach adopted by the registered manager, which enabled them to have a good understanding of the improvements required and why, along with receiving praise for the changes successfully implemented.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was inadequate (published 15 August 2022).

At the last inspection we found improvements were needed to keep people safe. This included improvements to how risk was assessed and monitored, the provision of sufficient staff to meet people’s needs and improved reporting of abuse to relevant agencies. In addition, the previous inspection identified a lack of consistent and effective leadership had negatively impacted on the assessment and monitoring of the service to improve quality and safety.

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.

As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, responsive and well-led only.

At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

This service has been in Special Measures since 16 October 2022. During this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

Why we inspected

We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the safe key question. We look at this in all care home 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.

For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from inadequate to good based on the findings of this inspection.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Huntingdon Court on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

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