All inspections: Barnabas House - Care Quality Commission

The inspection took place on 9 September 2015. Barnabas House is a domiciliary care agency which offers personal care, companionship and domestic help to support people. There are currently 5 people using the service.

The service has 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.

People were safeguarded from the potential of harm and their freedoms protected. People were cared for safely by staff who had been recruited and employed after appropriate checks had been completed. Staff had up to date information about people’s needs which meant they were more effective in delivering appropriate care. Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare.

Staff had received regular training and were knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities. They had the skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care. The service worked well with other professionals to ensure that people's health needs were met. Where appropriate, support and guidance were sought from health care professionals, including GPs, community learning disability teams and consultant psychiatrists. People were supported with their nutrition and hydration needs. Staff supported people with their medication as required.

Staff knew the people they were supporting and provided a personalised service. Care plans were in place detailing how people wished to be supported and people were involved in making decisions about their care. Staff were attentive to people's needs and treated people with dignity and respect.

People were supported with activities which interested them. People knew how to make a complaint; complaints had been resolved efficiently and quickly.

The manager had a number of ways of gathering people’s views including talking with people, staff, and relatives. They carried out a number of quality monitoring audits to help ensure the service was running effectively and to make improvements.

We found that staff had a good understanding of people's individual needs. We saw that people were treated respectfully and their individuality and diversity understood. The interaction we saw between staff and people was friendly and enabling.

Staff we spoke with said that they thought they had been properly recruited and trained. Staff told us that they received good support in their roles.

We saw that people's care and support was planned and reviewed regularly. Risks to the health, welfare and safety of the person were identified and managed.

When we first visited on 23 October 2013 some of the people using the service were not available for us to speak with and so we returned, by appointment, on 5 November 2013 when we knew people would be in.

Some of the people we met at our inspection could not, because of their disabilities, tell us verbally about their experiences and so we used observation to help us understand their experience of the service. People we were able to speak with told us that they were satisfied with how they were treated and with the way staff supported them in their day-to-day choices and routines. One person told us, "The staff are good to me and I like it here.' Another person said, 'I like the staff and my keyworker takes me out, sometimes we eat out which is good.' 'I like the manager.'

We undertook an unannounced visit to Barnabas House. During the visit we spoke to two people who lived at this house. Both reported that they were ''very happy here''. They ''liked the staff'', they attended various activities and clubs within the locality. Staff assist with the booking arrangements if required and would accompany if needed. People were allowed to choose what activities they attended and had forged strong links with the local community.

We spoke to one family member they said ''the care and support offered was excellent''. They were always informed of any changes in care, received regular updates and any queries or concerns were dealt in an appropriate manner. In their opinion staff understood the support their family member required and promoted their independence at all times.

We saw the care workers responding to the individual needs of the people who lived at the home. They have in the past and continue to be willing to undertake specialist training in response to changing needs of the individual.

The staff were aware of the potential of abuse and worked to reduce this risk in people's day to day lives. The provider supported ongoing staff training and had detailed instructions in place as to how to respond if allegations are made.

People in this home are well informed they can communicate their needs and are able to make informed choices.

Archived: Barnabas House

All Inspections

9 September 2015

During a routine inspection

23 October and 5 November 2013

During a routine inspection

3 December 2012

During a routine inspection