Archived: Pilgrim Care

Updated 15 November 2016

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 4 October 2016 and was announced. The registered provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service; we needed to be sure the manager would be available to meet with us. The inspection team consisted of one adult social care 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. The expert by experience on this occasion had experience of working in health and social care.

Before the inspection we reviewed all the information we held about the service. We contacted Healthwatch to see if they had received any information about the provider. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We contacted the local authority safeguarding, commissioning and monitoring team and reviewed all the information regarding the service.

During our visit we spent time looking at four people’s care plans, we also looked at three records relating to staff recruitment and four related to staff training, and various documents relating to the service’s quality assurance systems. We spoke with the registered manager, a care co-ordinator, senior care assistant and a care assistant. We also spoke with five people who used the service.

Updated 15 November 2016

The inspection of Pilgrim Care took place on 4 October 2016 and was announced. We previously inspected the service on 30 December 2013. The service was not in breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 regulations at that time.

Pilgrim Care provides personal care services for people living in their own apartments within a purpose built supported living housing complex close to the town centre of Mirfield in West Yorkshire. On the day of our inspection a maximum of twenty people were receiving support with personal care.

The service had 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 had received training in safeguarding vulnerable people and were aware of their responsibilities in keeping people safe. Risk assessments were in place and, where appropriate these recorded the details as to how people were assisted with their mobility needs. Where equipment was no longer appropriate, staff took action to get the persons needs reviewed.

There was a procedure in place to ensure the service recruited safely and reduce the risk of employing people who were may be unsuitable to work with vulnerable adults.

There were policies in place to ensure the safe management of medicines. Staff were assessed to ensure they competent to administer peoples medicines safely.

People told us staff had the skills to meet their needs. New staff received training and support to enable them to the standards expected of them. Staff received regular supervision and assessment of their performance.

Staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Where a person lacked capacity to consent to their care and support we saw a capacity assessment had been completed.

The complex had an onsite restaurant which was available during the day and people could choose to eat their lunchtime meal there. Where people required support with eating and drinking, this was recorded in their care plan.

People told us staff were kind and caring. People’s care plans included a summary of their life history. Staff were able to clearly explain the steps they took to maintain people’s privacy and dignity.

Care plans were person centred and recorded a breakdown of the tasks staff were to compete at each call. Care plans were reviewed and updated as people’s needs changed.

People told us they were satisfied with the service but they were aware of how to complain should the need arise. Everyone we spoke with gave positive feedback about the service. Staff were proud of the organisation they worked for and the service they provided.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality of service delivered to people.