Archived: Onkar Care Home

Is the service safe?

Our inspection of the 23 and 27 January 2014 found the service needed to make improvements in relation to staff recruitment. The inspection of the 7 and 8 of April 2014 found staff personnel records contained all the information required by the Health and Social Care Act. This meant the provider could demonstrate that the staff employed to work at the service were suitable.

Systems for the reporting and recording of incidents between people who used the service needed to be improved to ensure that people were protected from abuse. A compliance action has been set in relation to this and the provider must tell us how they plan to improve.

Our inspection of the 23 and 27 January 2014 found the service did not have a robust system for the obtaining of, recording of, handling of, safe administration of and disposal of medicines. Our inspection of the 7 and 8 April 2014 found improvements had been made with regards to the obtaining of, handling of and disposal of medicines. Improvements still need to be made in relation to the recording of and administration of medicines. We found people who were prescribed medication to be administered as and when needed did not have a clear protocol in place as to when the medication should be administered. This had the potential for people not to receive their medication in the circumstances for which it was prescribed. A compliance action has been set in relation to this and the provider must tell us how they plan to improve.

Our inspection of 23 and 27 January 2014 found people's records were incomplete or out of date, which included people's care plans and records recording their access to health care. Our inspection of the 7 and 8 April 2014 found that people had a support plan; however these along with risk assessments were not sufficiently comprehensive. A compliance action has been set in relation to this and the provider must tell us how they plan to improve. Records showed people had accessed health care appointments. Discussions with staff showed that they had a good understanding as to the needs of people and the information they provided was consistent with the content of people's records.

Is the service effective?

Our inspection of 23 and 27 January 2014 found people's needs had not been assessed and that people's records were incomplete or out of date, which included people's care plans and records recording their access to health care. Our inspection of the 7 and 8 April 2014 found people's needs had not been assessed by the provider. A compliance action has been set in relation to this and the provider must tell us how they plan to improve.

Is the service caring?

We observed positive interactions between people who used the service and staff. We observed staff supporting people in accessing the local community and supporting people to take part in activities within the service. People told us they had recently started attending day centres and college courses, which they enjoyed. A member of staff we spoke with told us people accessed the local community and had recently attended local clubs, discos and had eaten out at local takeaways and restaurants.

Is the service responsive?

People who used the service had attended a number of meetings and had had the opportunity to talk about their views about the service they received and any changes they wanted to make. Minutes of meetings showed people had asked to enrol on college courses and to take part in a range of activities. Records showed these requests had been acted upon.

Is the service well led?

The provider continues to work with an external consultant and representatives of the local authority to make improvements. The acting manager has submitted an application to CQC to be registered. Our inspection of April 2014 noted a range of improvements had taken place since our inspection of January 2014, which has included the introduction of regular staff meetings and the formal supervision of staff, the introduction of meetings for people who use the service and their participation in activities and local events.

We looked at the records of four people who used the service. We found people's needs had not been assessed and that people's records were incomplete or out of date, which included people's care plans and records recording their access to health care. Staff were not in all instances able to provide accurate information about people's health and support needs when asked. This meant people's care was not well managed and had the potential to be unsafe.

We looked at people's medication and medication records. We found anomalies with regards to the management of medicines within the service and we were not confident that people were having their medication managed safely. Staff were not able to provide an explanation as to the anomalies we found when looking at people's medication, which put people at risk of not having their medication managed well.

The provider had recruited staff that had not undergone a robust recruitment procedure. Staff records showed staff who had recently been employed had commenced work at the service without the appropriate checks being carried out to ensure their suitability to work with vulnerable adults.

The provider did not have an effective system to assess and monitor the quality of service that people received.

When we looked at records we found that a lack of, or inaccurate records detailing the assessed needs and care of people meant people were at risk from receiving unsafe or inappropriate care and treatment due to a lack of proper information.

People who used the service had care and support plans in place which recorded the care and support they required. People who used the service had their cultural needs met and had access to community services reflective of their culture, which included support in practicing their religious beliefs. People who used the service were supported by staff that spoke with them in their first language. Staff provided meals which reflected the needs of people and included and Asian and English diet, which included vegetarian options and Halal meat.

We toured the premises with members of staff and looked at communal areas, showering facilities, a majority of the bedrooms and the outside space. We found improvements were needed.

People's needs and the support they required were comprehensively recorded within their support plans. Records showed that the service supported people to access a range of health care professionals who work with the staff of the home to monitor and promote people's health.

People's equality and diversity were recognised and supported with staff supporting people to attend religious and social events within the local community.

Information about how to make a complaint, minutes of meetings and personal information about themselves was available to people living at the home in easy read formats using large print, photographs and symbols to assist people in their understanding.