16 December 2015
During a routine inspection
Action for Children Outreach Services Cambridgeshire is registered to provide personal care to younger people who live in their own homes. The service's registered office is located on the outskirts of Huntingdon. At the time of our inspection there was one person using the service.
This announced inspection took place on 16 December 2015. This was the service’s first inspection since it was registered with the Care Quality Commission.
The service had a registered manager in post. 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.
A robust recruitment and induction process was in place. This helped ensure that the quality and suitability of staff met legal requirements. People were supported with their preferences by skilled and experienced members of staff.
Staff were trained and had their competence to safely administer medicines safely regularly assessed. Safe medicines administration and management practices were adhered to. Staff had acquired the skills to be confident in identifying and reporting any harm should this ever occur.
The CQC is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and to report on what we find. The registered manager and staff were knowledgeable about the situations where an assessment of people’s mental capacity could be required. No person was currently meeting the age requirements of the MCA. However, not all staff had an embedded understanding of the MCA. This meant that there was a risk of people being provided with aspects of their care that was not always in their best interests.
People’s care was provided with compassion by dedicated staff who knew and understood people’s preferences. People’s privacy and dignity was respected by staff who adhered to good standards of care. People were supported to make decisions about the aspects of their lives that were important to them.
People and family members were involved in planning their care provision. This also included healthcare professionals, social workers and staff. Advocacy arrangements were in place to support those people who required someone to speak up on their behalf. Regular reviews of people’s care were completed to help ensure that people were provided with care and support based upon their latest information.
People were supported to access a range of health care professionals including a GP. Health care advice and guidance was adhered to. Prompt action was taken in response to people’s health care needs.
People were supported to ensure they ate and drank sufficient quantities. People had the choice to eat their favourite foods when they wanted to.
People were supported to raise concerns or suggestions in a way which respected their rights. Staff responded quickly to any changes in a person’s well-being if the person was not happy. Information and guidance about how to raise compliments or concerns was made available to people and their relatives.
Audits and quality assurance procedures in place. This helped identify good practice, areas for improvement and what worked well. The registered manager attended a range of forums to help ensure good practice was identified and shared. Support was provided to develop staff’ skills and obtain additional care related qualifications.