Absolute Care Services (Dymond House)

Updated 3 August 2021

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 Care Act 2014.

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 team consisted of 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.

The service had a manager registered with the CQC. 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.

Notice of inspection:

This inspection was announced. We gave the provider 24 hours’ notice to enable them to ensure they could accommodate an inspection as safely as possible. Inspection activity started on 6 July 2021 and ended on 14 July 2021.

What we did before the inspection:

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We reviewed statutory notifications submitted by the provider. Statutory notifications contain information providers are required to send to us about significant events that take place within services. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection:

We spoke with three people using the service, two care support workers, the registered manager, the managing director and the housing with care officer. We reviewed a range of records including four people’s care records, medicines administration records, four staff records and other records relating to the management of the service.

After the inspection:

We spoke with two relatives about their experiences of the service. We continued to speak with the registered manager and managing director and sought clarification about the evidence gathered. We also reviewed additional documentation relating to the management of the service.

Updated 3 August 2021

About the service

Absolute Care Services (Dymond House) provides personal care and support to people living in self-contained flats located in a single building. This is known as extra care housing and is operated by an independent housing provider. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of this inspection there were 30 people being provided with personal care and support by the service.

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

People were safe at the service. Staff were caring and respectful and treated people well.

Staff had been trained to safeguard people from abuse. Staff understood identified risks to people’s safety and wellbeing and what action to take to support people to stay safe. There were enough staff to support people and meet their needs.

The provider carried out checks on staff to make sure they were suitable to support people. Staff received relevant training and supervision to help them meet people’s needs. Staff were well supported by managers and were encouraged to learn, develop and improve in their role.

Staff made sure people’s homes were clean and hygienic. They followed current practice to reduce infection and hygiene risks within people’s homes.

People were involved in planning their care and support and could state their preferences for how this was provided. People’s records reflected their needs and preferences. People were supported to be as independent as they could be with daily living tasks. People’s wishes for the support they wanted to receive at the end of their life had not been routinely recorded. The provider was taking action after the inspection to improve this.

Staff knew people well and understood how their identified needs should be met. People were supported to undertake activities and interests that were important to them. Relatives were free to visit their family members if they wished.

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

People were supported to take their prescribed medicines and staff made sure people could access support from healthcare professionals when needed. Staff encouraged people to eat and drink enough to meet their needs.

The provider had arrangements in place to make sure accidents, incidents and complaints were investigated and people kept involved and informed of the outcome.

People had positive experiences of using the service. The provider had systems in place to obtain their feedback about how the service could be improved. The provider undertook checks at regular intervals, to monitor, review and improve the quality and safety of the service and addressed any issues found through these checks. We identified there had been no recent audit of medicines. The provider was taking action after the inspection to improve this.

The provider worked proactively with other agencies and healthcare professionals and acted on their recommendations to deliver care and support that met people’s needs. They also worked closely with the housing provider of the extra care housing scheme and informed them promptly of any issues or concerns relating to the environment and premises.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 22/03/2019 and this was the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the length of time since the service registered with the CQC.

We also looked at infection prevention and control measures under the safe key question. We look at this in inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.