Background to this inspection
Updated
8 November 2017
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.
The provider was given short notice of this inspection because the location provided a domiciliary care service. We carried out a visit to the service on 11 September 2017. This inspection was carried out by one inspector.
We looked at any notifications and other communication that we had received and during our inspection we spoke with four people using the service, a relative, four staff that directly provided support to people, the registered manager, home link manager and deputy manager. .
We gathered evidence of people’s experiences of the service by conversations we had with people and reviewing other communication that the service had with these people.
As part of this inspection we reviewed four people’s care plans and care records. We looked at the training and supervision records for four of the staff team. We reviewed other records such as complaints information, quality monitoring and audit information.
Updated
8 November 2017
The Elfrida Society is a local charity based in Islington for adults with a learning disability. The domiciliary care agency describes the specific element of the service that provides personal care as ”Homelink.” This currently provides support to three adults with learning disabilities within their own homes and in the local community.
This inspection was short notice, which meant the provider and staff did not know we were coming until shortly before we visited the service. At the last inspection on 2 September 2015 the provider met all of the legal requirements we looked at and was rated good.
At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
There was a registered manager in place at the time of the inspection. 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 on 2 September 2015 we made a recommendation in respect of ensuring that although people gave verbal consent, people’s written consent to their care plan was not being obtained in all cases. We also recommended that the service monitors staff supervision and appraisal. The provider had accepted these recommendations and had taken action to make improvements.
People were kept safe from harm and staff knew what to do in order to maintain their safety. Risks to people were assessed and action was taken to minimise potential risks.
People were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported people in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service also supported this practice.
Support workers were well trained and were supported through supervision and had their performance and development needs reviewed.
People’s dignity and privacy was respected and staff knew how each person wanted to be supported. People’s independence was promoted and staff encouraged people to do as much for themselves as possible. People were given information on how to make a complaint and staff supported people to use advocacy services if they wanted to.
People who used the service had support needs around their activities of daily life and engaging in the community. The service provided only small amounts of support to people with personal physical care and did not need to help anyone to take their medicines. Information contained within the four care plans we looked showed that people’s support needs were made clear.
The registered manager, along with the Homelink manager and deputy manager carried out regular audits of the service and used these as a means of maintaining high quality care. Any action that was required was taken. The provider was open and transparent in the way that they communicated with people.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.