4 June 2014
During a routine inspection
Is the service safe?
The recruitment procedures demonstrated to us that the provider did not operate a robust and effective recruitment procedure to protect the interests of people using the service.
We saw there were company policies and procedures in place for staff to refer to about the safeguarding of vulnerable people and people who may lack capacity.
One person we spoke with said 'I feel safe when they are seeing to me'. All of the comments made by people we spoke with were very positive about the staff and care they received.
Is the service effective?
We saw records that showed staff undertook comprehensive induction training to give them the skills and knowledge to look after people properly. This would ensure staff were confident, safe and competent.
There were written policies and procedures in relation to the safe and effective recruitment of suitable staff. However the policy and procedures for the company had not been consistently followed when recruiting staff.
Is the service caring ?
The relatives and people we spoke with told us they were 'extremely happy' with the service provided and said the support provided was 'brilliant'. One person who used the service we spoke with said, 'The staff are really nice'.
In some of the care plans we looked at we saw information about individuals that provided personalised information about their preferences, likes and dislikes. We saw that where necessary people had been referred to other professionals.
Is the service well-led?
The registered manager and staff told us about all of the areas of quality assessments that took place regularly. However these were not always formally recorded.
We saw there were company policies and procedures in place for staff to refer to about the safeguarding of people who may lack capacity. However we did not see consistent evidence that each person's capacity to consent was assessed and recorded
Is the service responsive?
We asked staff and carers about how changes that occurred in people needs were documented in their care plans. We were told that when things changed the records were reviewed and that information was then shared by the manager.
The reviews of care showed that people and their relatives had been involved at the assessment of their needs and part of the decision making about how their needs would be met by the service.