Archived: Aspen Court

Updated 15 December 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 1 inspector, a specialist pharmacy 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

Aspen 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. Aspen 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

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since they registered. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection

We spoke with 4 people who used the service and 4 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 7 staff including the registered manager, deputy manager and support workers. We reviewed 3 people's care records, staff recruitment records and we looked at the governance arrangements for the safe handling of medicines including the providers policy and audits. We looked at medicine’s records and medicine stock. We looked at a variety of management records.

Updated 15 December 2022

About the service

Aspen Court is a residential care home providing personal care to people living with a learning disability. The service can support up to 5 people. At the time of the inspection there were 5 people receiving care and support accommodated in 3 individual houses and two self-contained flats.

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

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

Right Support

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. Staff focused on people’s strengths and promoted what they could do, so people had a fulfilling and meaningful everyday life. People and their relatives confirmed this.

The service was designed to support people living in individual self-contained houses and flats. Which promoted people’s independence. People had access to outside space, and this had been designed to meet their needs. People were supported to maintain and pursue their interests and to achieve their aspirations and goals. The service made reasonable adjustments so people could be fully involved in discussions about how they received support. People received their medicines as prescribed. However, some guidance documentation, for as and when required medicines, required improving. We have made a recommendation that protocols are introduced to ensure the correct guidance is available to staff.

Right Care

People received care and support from staff who knew them well and understood their needs and considered their preferences. Staff interacted positively with people and had a caring and respectful approach. Staff understood people’s individual ways of communicating. Staff could recognise and report abuse and there were enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. It was clear staff cared deeply for the people they supported.

Staff sought appropriate advice from healthcare professionals in a timely way and staff ensured this was followed.

Right Culture

People were supported to lead lives that were person-centred and inclusive. People were involved in planning their support and deciding how they wanted staff to support them to meet their outcomes and achieve their goals. people received support based on transparency, respect and inclusivity.

Governance systems were in place, which included a series of audits and checks. For example, infection control and care planning. Action plans were used to develop and improve the service.

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

This service was registered with us on 11 March 2021 and this is the first inspection

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

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.

Follow up

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