Lapwing Court 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. Not everyone living at Lapwing Court receives a 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 receive we also take into account any wider social care provided. Lapwing Court is purpose built apartments. There are also communal facilities including a restaurant, library, lounge and activities room. At the time of the inspection there were 16 people using the service.

The inspection took place on 25 September 2018 and was announced.

This was the first inspection for Lapwing Court since it was registered in September 2017.

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

Staff were aware of how to keep people safe from harm and what procedures they should follow to report any harm. Action had been taken to minimise the risks to people. Risk assessments identified risks but did not always provide staff with the written information they needed to reduce risks. However, the registered manager had taken action to reduce risks to people. Systems were in place to promote and maintain good infection prevention and control.

Support plans gave staff the basic information they required to meet people’s care and support needs. However, care plans needed to be developed to include information about how people’s medical conditions affected them.

Medicines were managed safely. Staff received training and their competency to do this was checked before staff could administer people’s medicines unsupervised.

Staff were only employed after they had been subject to a thorough recruitment procedure. There were enough staff employed to ensure that people had their needs met. Staff received the mandatory training they required to meet people's needs and were supported in their roles.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice and worked within the guidance of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Staff were motivated to provide care that was kind and compassionate. They knew people well and

were aware of their history, preferences, likes and dislikes. People's independence, privacy and dignity were respected and promoted.

People were supported to maintain good health as staff had the knowledge and skills to support them. There was prompt access to external healthcare professionals when needed.

People were provided with a choice of food and drink that they enjoyed. When needed staff supported people to prepare food and drink of their choice.

There was a complaints procedure in place. People and their relatives felt confident to raise any concerns either with the staff or manager.

There was an effective quality assurance process in place which included obtaining the views of people that used the service, their relatives and the staff. Where needed action had been taken to make improvements to the service being offered.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.