Archived: Integrated Care Services Limited - 27a Old Kenton Lane

Updated 10 September 2015

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 7 August 2015 and was announced. The provider was given 24 hours’ notice because the location was a small care home for younger adults who are often out during the day; we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

The inspection was carried out by one inspector and a second inspector who shadowed this inspection as part of the CQC inspector induction.

Before our inspection we reviewed information we have about the provider, including notifications of any safeguarding or other incidents affecting the safety and well-being of people.

People who used the service had limited verbal communication skills, we observed care provided and spoke to two people who used the service and one relative.

During the inspection we spoke with two care workers and the registered manager.

We looked at three people’s care plans and other documents relating to their care including risk assessments and medicines records. We also looked at other records held by the agency including staff meeting minutes as well as health and safety documents and quality audits and surveys.

Updated 10 September 2015

This comprehensive inspection took place on 7 August 2015 and was announced.

During our last inspection on 18 September 2014 we found no breaches and the provider was compliant with all regulations assessed.

Integrated Care Services Limited - 27a Old Kenton Lane provides accommodation and support with personal care for up to four people with complex communication needs, autistic spectrum disorders and learning disabilities. The service has a registered manager appointed. 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.

We found that 27a Old Kenton Lane provided a personalised, person-centred, service in which people were in control of the support they received and participated in decision-making for themselves and the service. People were encouraged and enabled to be more independent and there was a clear ethos and culture to promote well-being.

Staff had a good understanding of safeguarding adults’ procedures and keeping people safe. They knew how to recognise and report concerns appropriately and understood how to ‘Whistle Blow’.

Medicines were stored and administered correctly and staff had completed the appropriate training to ensure they were competent and safe.

Risk assessments and care plans were effective; they were individual and recorded all the required information. People and their relatives were involved in the care planning process and outcomes they were working towards were achievable and recorded in a simple, pictorial format and easier to understand.

People consented to their care and treatment and staff had a good understating of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). DoLS exist to protect the rights of people who lack the mental capacity to make certain decisions about their own wellbeing. Services should only deprive someone of their liberty when it is in the best interests of the person and there is no other way to look after them, and it should be done in a safe and correct way.

Care workers were well trained and staff had all undertaken an induction programme before starting at the service. While there was a system in place to formally supervise care workers, we found that individual supervisions had been infrequent.

People had access to healthcare services and received ongoing healthcare support from a local GP and regular visits to the service were undertaken by visiting professionals. Reviews of people’s mental health and healthcare were also undertaken by the multi-disciplinary team.

People’s dignity and privacy was maintained. They were supported with personal care and other tasks and were encouraged to do as much for themselves as possible in order to maintain and increase their independence.

People were given information on how to make a complaint and how to access advocacy services. No complaints had been received since our last inspection.

The registered manager conducted regular audits at the service including random spot checks to ensure the service is delivering high quality care. Actions were carried through and discussed with the staff team for learning and improvements.