Archived: Creative Support Services

Updated 5 April 2016

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 between the 25 November 2015 and the 5 December 2015 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service, so we needed to be sure that someone would be in the office. The inspection team consisted of two inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using, or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

We reviewed information we held about the service and which included notifications the provider had sent to us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. This included the provider information return (PIR) and the notifications that the provider had sent us. The PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. The PIR also provides data about the organisation and service.

We also spoke with thirteen people who used the service, five care staff, the manager and the provider. We looked at care plans for five people who used the service and reviewed the provider’s recruitment processes. We also looked at the training information for all the staff employed by the service, and information on how the service was managed.

Updated 5 April 2016

This announced inspection was carried out between the 25 November 2015 and the 5 December 2015.

Creative Support Services provides care in people’s own homes. At the time of the inspection there were 55 people using the service.

The service had employed a new manager who had started the application process with the Care Quality Commission to become the 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.

During the last inspection carried out on the 23 January 2014 all regulations inspected were met.

People felt safe using the service and staff were aware of their duty of care to the people they supported. People were protected from avoidable risks and harm. Staff were provided with training to recognise and respond to potential signs of abuse.

The provider ensured safe recruitment procedures were followed, this included Disclosure and Barring checks (DBS) and references. New staff had a period of induction along with a period of shadowing of more experienced staff.

There were sufficient staff available to visit people in their own homes, in a timely manner, and to meet people’s needs. The manager and care coordinator appropriately matched staff to the people they cared for.

People were prompted and supported to take their medicines at the correct time. Records of people’s medicines were kept and audited monthly by the manager to ensure the correct recording was carried out.

Staff participated in training and supervision; they understood their roles and responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

Where appropriate, staff ensured families were kept up-to-date regarding the health and welfare of their relative. Staff assisted people to contact their health and social care professional when it was necessary.

People saw staff as kind, caring and compassionate. Staff cared for people in a manner that promoted and respected people’s privacy and dignity. People felt the staff listened to them and understood their views, values and choices.

People or their representative were involved in decisions their care. People’s care plans contained information on how each person wanted to be assisted and supported. Care plans were reviewed and updated to reflect current wishes and needs.

There was a system of auditing, reviewing and evaluating the quality of the service provision. Staff were provided with support, supervision and appraisal periodically from the manager. Staff felt well supported by the manager, who understood their duties and responsibilities.