Archived: J B Skillcare Limited

2 Keel Row, The Watermark, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, NE11 9SZ (0191) 460 0880

Provided and run by:
Routes Healthcare (North East) Limited

Important: This service is now registered at a different address - see new profile

All Inspections

9 July 2013

During an inspection looking at part of the service

This was an inspection to follow up areas of concern we found when we last inspected. We found the provider had taken steps to improve their staff recruitment processes. This ensured they had taken reasonable measures to reduce the risk of unsuitable staff being employed.

25, 29 April and 2, 3, 7 May 2013

During a routine inspection

We found people received the care they needed. People made positive comments about the care received and told us they were happy with the care and support provided. One person remarked, 'The service works for me. I just email them when to come ' it's fine.' Another person said, 'I'm really pleased with everything. The staff know us well now. They are like friends to us both. I don't know how we would have coped without them. I'm not sure we would have coped actually.'

Staff were trained on how to recognise and report abuse. They were given guidance to follow by the care provider. We saw the provider did not always follow agreed local procedures in reporting suspicions of abuse to the local safeguarding adults' teams. The people we asked said they felt safe and knew how to report any concerns they might have.

People told us staff were polite, courteous and caring. One person commented to us, 'All of them have been dead nice, I get on with them.' We were also told, 'The carers ' they're great, very caring.' Staff had regular supervision meetings with a line manager. We saw however, staff were not always safely recruited and there were several gaps in their training.

We checked a sample of records. The majority were safely stored, but some were difficult to access and stored in an unsecured area.

19 December 2012

During a routine inspection

In this report the name of a registered manager appears who was not in post and not managing the regulatory activities at this location at the time of the inspection. Their name appears because they were still a Registered Manager on our register at the time.

The reason for this visit was to check improvements had been made following a previous inspection. We found the provider had made significant improvements in medicine management, staffing support and record keeping arrangements.

We found there were arrangements in place to safely help people with their medicines. This included ensuring staff received relevant training, medicines were clearly recorded, and stocks were reordered when needed. People told us they were happy with the help they received.

People also told us staff were polite, courteous and caring. We saw staff were appropriately qualified, trained and well supported. People made positive comments about the staff, and the comments we heard included, 'They're not just paid carers, they really care.'

We checked a sample of records and found these were up to date, accurate and securely stored.

3 May 2012

During a routine inspection

During this inspection we visited three people using the service. We also met with two relatives and two care workers.

People told us they received a flexible and reliable service that met their care and support needs. They spoke positively about the management and staff and said they had regular care workers who had been involved with them from the start of their arrangement with the agency.

Their comments included, "We have had the same team from the start'; 'Staff arrive on time and always stay for the full time period"; 'Most of the team are always professional'; 'They provide the best care I have ever had'; and, 'The staff understand me and my varying needs'.

Care workers told us they were well supported, enjoyed their work and that management were approachable and always available for advice.