Regency Court

Updated 24 February 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

Two inspectors and an Expert by Experience carried out this inspection. 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

Regency 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. Regency 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 not a registered manager in post. The manager present at the inspection had submitted an application to register. We are currently assessing this application

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced. Inspection activity started on 25 January 2023 and ended on 3 February 2023. We visited the service on 25 January 2023.

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 and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.

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. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spent time with people in the communal areas observing the care and support provided by staff. We spoke with 2 people who used the service and 5 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the nominated individual and 5 members of staff including the manager, a senior care worker, care workers and the cook. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We reviewed a range of records. This included 2 people's care records and 6 people's medicine records. We looked at 3 staff recruitment files. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed.

Updated 24 February 2023

About the service

Regency Court is a residential care home providing personal care to up to 22 people in one adapted building. The service provides support to older people, some of whom are living with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 9 people using the service.

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

Significant improvements had been made since the last inspection. Recruitment checks were carried out before new staff started work. However, the accuracy of application forms, employment history and verification of references needed to be more robust. We have made a recommendation that the provider reviews their recruitment process.

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. At the time of the inspection, the location did not care or support for anyone with a learning disability or an autistic person. However, we assessed the care provision under Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture, as it is registered as a specialist service for this population group.

There were enough staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. Staff received the training and support they required to carry out their roles. Medicines were managed safely.

People felt safe in the service. Safeguarding events, accidents and incidents were reported, recorded and acted upon appropriately. Risks to people were assessed and managed well by staff. One relative said, “[Family member] is safe here, they have been in 2 other homes but they are much happier here.”

The environment was well maintained and clean. Safe infection prevention and control procedures were followed. 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 received person-centred care. Care records had improved although some further minor improvements were identified. People and relatives were happy with the care provided and were involved in planning and reviewing care. People and relatives praised the staff for their kindness and compassion. We saw staff treated people with respect and maintained their privacy and dignity. Activities were taking place. People had access to healthcare services. People were provided with a choice of food and drinks and enjoyed their meals.

There had been a lack of consistent leadership over the last couple of years but this had improved. Relatives and staff spoke highly of the current manager and acknowledged the improvements they had made since starting in post. The provider had secured additional support from an external consultant. Effective quality assurance systems had been implemented and issues were actioned and verified by the consultant and provider. An action plan was in place to make sure improvements were sustained and developed further.

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 19 September 2022) and there were breaches of regulations. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. 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 November 2021. 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

This inspection was carried out to follow up on action we told the provider to take at the last inspection.

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.

The overall rating for the service has changed from inadequate to requires improvement based on the findings of this inspection.

Recommendations

We have made a recommendation in relation to recruitment at this inspection.

Follow up

We will meet with the provider following this report being published to discuss how they will make changes to ensure they improve their rating to at least good. We will work with the local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.