Background to this inspection
Updated
28 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.
The inspection took place on the 27 May 2015, it was announced. Forty eight hours’ notice of the inspection was given to ensure that the people we needed to speak to were available.
The inspection team consisted of two inspectors and two experts by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for people who use this type of care service.
We telephoned six people to ask them about their views and experiences of receiving care. We sent surveys to relatives and spoke with one relative on the telephone. We sent surveys to people and staff. We spoke with three staff during the inspection, which included the manager and the registered manager who was also the provider and telephoned four staff to interview them.
We looked at records held by the provider. These included five people’s care records, risk assessments, four weeks of staff rotas, eight staff recruitment records, meeting minutes, policies and procedures.
We contacted health and social care professionals to obtain feedback about their experience of the service.
We last inspected the service on the 23 January 2014 and there were no concerns.
Updated
28 September 2015
The inspection was carried out on 27 May 2015. Our inspection was announced. Forty eight hours notice of the inspection was given to ensure that the people we needed to speak to were available.
SC Support and Care Services provide support to people in their own homes. The service focuses on supporting people to access their local community, participate in social activities and to develop independent living skills. The majority of people using the service have a learning disability although services are also provided to older people and those living with dementia. Some personal care is provided if people needed this during their activities. At the time of our inspection 50 people received care and support from the service.
SC Support and Care Services Limited had a registered manager. 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. The registered manager was the provider.
Medicines were not appropriately managed and recorded. Prescribed creams that had been administered by staff had not been recorded effectively.
Risk assessments lacked detail and did not give staff guidance about any action staff needed to take to make sure people were protected from harm.
Recruitment practices were not always safe. Staff had not always received appropriate training relevant to their job roles and people’s needs.
Professional advice and guidance relating to one person’s choking risk had not been followed. We made a recommendation about this.
Support plans did not always reflect people’s skills, abilities and aspirations. Support plans had not always been updated and reviewed when people’s needs changed.
The complaints procedure was not up to date. We made a recommendation about this.
People’s information was not always treated confidentially. People’s paper records were stored securely.
Audit systems were not in place to ensure that care and support met people’s needs.
Staff knew and understood how to safeguard people from abuse, they had attended training, and there were effective procedures in place to keep people safe from abuse and mistreatment.
Staff received regular support and supervision from the manager.
There were suitable numbers of staff on shift to meet people’s needs.
Procedures and guidance in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) was in place which included steps that staff should take to comply with legal requirements.
People received medical assistance from healthcare professionals when they needed it. Staff knew people well and recognised when people were not acting in their usual manner.
People and relatives told us that staff were kind, caring and communicated well with them.
People and their relatives had been involved with planning their own care. Staff treated people with dignity and respect.
People’s view and experiences were sought through review meetings and through surveys.
People were encouraged to take part in activities that they enjoyed, this included activities in the local community. People were supported to be as independent as possible.
People told us that the service was well run. Staff were positive about the support they received from the manager. They felt they could raise concerns and they would be listened to.
Communication between staff within the service was good. They were made aware of significant events and any changes in people’s behaviour.
We found a number of breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.
You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.