Archived: Lancaster & Morecambe Domiciliary Service (service 2)

Some people who lived in the supported houses had limited verbal communication. They were unable to have an in-depth conversation about the care and support they received. However we talked with people in a general way and we observed how staff supported people.

We observed the care that staff provided to people. We saw staff chatting to people. They were friendly and caring. People were encouraged to get involved in activities.

Staff supported people to shop for and to prepare meals in the way they wanted. Where people needed assistance to eat, staff supported them effectively.

Person centred care records were in place, providing informative up to date information about people.

Equipment used by people was maintained safely. Where repairs were needed these were carried out quickly.

Recruitment and selection was carried out thoroughly. This meant that the correct checks were made on staff and they had the skills needed to support people.

Systems were in place for monitoring the quality of the service people received. People living in the supported houses and relatives told us that they were well supported by the staff team.

Care records were in place providing regular up to date information about people. The care records were person centred. Health issues were taken into account and other professionals involved where needed. There were risk assessments in place covering specific areas of risk.

The people we spoke with told us that they felt safe in their home and would tell staff or their family if they had any worries. They told us they would tell the staff if they were upset about something.

We saw staffing levels at the houses we visited during the inspection, looked at recent rotas and talked with the manager and staff on duty. Staff spoken with felt that there were usually sufficient numbers of staff available to provide good support.

The provider had an effective system to monitor the quality of service. The management team completed frequent internal audits to check the care and support provided.

There were regular meetings for people living in the supported houses and staff meetings. At these people discussed the running of the service.