Housing 21 - Farmers Court

Farmers Court provides care and support to people living in specialist 'extra care' housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted 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 services. There were 29 people living at Farmers Court who received personal care from care staff in their own homes. These arrangements ensured people lived as independently as possible.

Not everyone using Farmers Court received the regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care'; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also take into account any wider social care provided.

There was an experienced registered manager in post. A requirement of the service's registration is that they have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated regulations about how the service is run.

At our previous inspection in November 2015 we rated the service as 'Good' overall, but 'Requires Improvement' in Well–led. At this inspection we have rated the service as 'Good' in all areas. There had been changes in the management team since our previous inspection, and people's feedback about how the home was managed was positive.

The vision of the staff and management team at Farmers Court was to assist people to remain as independent as possible whilst living in their own homes. Staff were enthusiastic and positive about their work in enabling people to remain independent.

People were encouraged and supported by caring and compassionate staff to follow their agreed care plans. Staff were well trained and effectively used their skills and knowledge to develop relationships with people and respond to people's individual needs.

Staff understood their responsibilities to keep people safe and protect them from harm. Policies and guidance were accessible to staff to remind them how to raise concerns following the provider's safeguarding policies. Risks to people had been assessed and risk mitigation plans were in place to instruct staff on how to support people safely.

People had their prescribed medicines available to them. Staff supported some people to take their medicines, and other people were able to manage their own medicines and were encouraged to do so. Staff received training in the safe handling, administering and recording of people's medicines.

People were involved in planning their own care. Staff read people's care plans and received an induction and training so that they knew people well. Further training took place to update and refresh staff skills and knowledge.

The registered manager and staff understood their responsibility to comply with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and worked within the principles of this.

Health and social care professionals were involved in the planning and delivery of people's care; staff followed the guidance given by health and social care professionals. People's agreed care and support was reviewed when required.

People said staff were kind and respectful toward them. People's feedback on the service was sought by the provider, and feedback was acted upon. People told us they felt they could raise concerns or complaints if they needed to.

The provider and registered manager had quality monitoring processes which included audits and checks on medicines management, care records and staff practices. Where improvement was identified, action was taken.

The five questions we ask about services and what we found