Archived: Mon Choisy

Care workers told us there was a plentiful supply of gloves. We saw that there was a supply of gloves available in a cupboard on the ground floor and that a stock of gloves was held in a storage room. We found that the hoist was not working. We saws that care workers did not have access to a working hoist. The provider told us they would take immediate action to fix the hoist and replace the wheels.

On the day of our visit there were 24 people living at Mon Choisy. We spoke with six people who told us they were happy living there. We observed care workers supporting people in a sensitive and friendly way. We spoke with five care workers, the registered manager and three other members of staff during our visit.

People we spoke with told us there were enough staff. One said there were 'plenty of staff'. We observed there to be enough staff to meet the needs of the people on the day of our visit. The registered manager told us that they were always able to arrange cover for staff sickness through other members of staff.

We looked at the care records for four people. Records showed that each person had undergone an assessment of their needs and that care plans and assessments were person centred. However, we found that the needs of one person were not promptly reviewed and assessed. We also found that some people's care was not delivered in line with professional recommendations to ensure their welfare and safety

We spoke with people who used the service who told us that they felt safe. We spoke with care workers who understood how to identify abuse. However, care workers we spoke with were not aware of how to report concerns outside of the organisation and had not received formal safeguarding of vulnerable adults training whilst working at Mon Choisy.

We found that appropriate arrangements were in place for the safe storage and administration of medicines. Medicines, where possible, were supplied via monitored dosage systems (MDS). We saw that care workers administering medicines had received training in medicines management.

We found that appropriate checks were not always undertaken before staff began work. The provider did not have a robust recruitment process in place to ensure that care workers were of good character and had the experience outlined in their application.

We looked at the training and professional development provided to care workers at Mon Choisy. We found that staff did not always receive appropriate training and were not always appropriately supervised and supported in line with the service's own policy.

We found that the provider did not effectively operate systems to regularly assess the quality of the service that people received. We also found that the provider did not effectively operate systems to identify, assess and manage risks relating to the health, safety and welfare of people who used the service.

The home employed 15 care workers. We spoke with two staff members and looked at the home's training and supervision records. Records showed that improvements had been made.

We found that staff completed a structured induction programme during which they worked closely with experienced care workers. Records showed that staff had been assessed and signed of as competent to undertake care tasks.

The home ensured all care workers undertook the home's core training. We found that care workers' were supported to develop their English language skills to enable them to understand the training material.

We found care workers received supervision and had regular opportunities to discuss their concerns and develop their understanding of their role and responsibilities. One care worker told us 'I already have a date in January for my next supervision. I got the opportunity to discuss my interest in developing as a team leader. It is much better now with the new manager it means there is always someone here to offer support'.

We found improvement in medication procedures. The senior care worker informed us 'we have had medication training and assessment, each person has a photo on their medication sheet and we must not be disturbed when we are doing the medication'.

We found there were effective recruitment and selection processes in place. We spoke with four people who use the service; they were complimentary about staff in the home. One person told us 'the staff here are very good', another person told us 'the staff here are very kind, the always talk to us '.

We found that some staff had not received training or supervision relevant to their roles and responsibilities. Some staff had not had training in moving and handling.

We found improvement in record keeping in the service. We found that care records were accurately maintained. One care worker we spoke with told us "the record books are good, we write notes daily in them and read them for each person."

We found that people and their relatives were happy with the care provided. A relative told us the care is good; they always call you and update you'.

We found the service knew how to protect people from all forms of abuse. One person said' I feel safe here all the time' another person said 'I am safe'.

Staff had undertaken varied training. A relative we spoke with said 'they have had training they know how to deal with things here'.

We found inconsistencies in record keeping. We could not locate medication training records. Staff shadow periods had not been recorded in line with policy.