The Care Quality Commission
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Archived: Domiciliary Support Short Term Service (DSSTS)

DSSTS, Wilfred Spencer Centre, Whitaker Road, Coventry, West Midlands, CV5 9JE (024) 7678 6765

Provided and run by:
Coventry City Council

All Inspections

31 July 2013

During a routine inspection

The agency provides a short term re-enablement service which supports people to come out of hospital or to prevent them from being admitted. Care and support is provided to people for up to a six week period. During that time people are supported and encouraged to regain their independence and to do as much for themselves as possible.

We visited the agency on Wednesday 31 July 2013. There were approximately 70 people using the service on the day of our visit. During our visit we spoke with the manager, assistant manager, staff in the office, and two care workers. We spoke with12 people who used the service.

We looked at the care records of five people who used the service. We were satisfied people were receiving the care they had consented to. We found care plans provided staff with sufficient information about people's support. We found staff supported people to regain their independence. One person told us, 'I started with three calls every day. I can now do the majority of things for myself again. I have found the service excellent.'

People told us care staff stayed long enough to do everything they needed and that staff took their time and did not rush.

We looked at the medication and recruitment procedures. We found there was a safe procedure for assisting people with medication. Records showed staff were properly checked before they started working for the agency. The procedures in place made sure people remained safe and well.

Records showed the agency had systems in place to monitor the care provided and for managing identified risks. People said they were happy with the care they received. One person told us, 'It's been invaluable to me. I wouldn't have been able to come out of hospital without it.'

28 May 2012

During a routine inspection

The agency provides a short term re-enablement service. This is to support people to come out of hospital or to prevent them from being admitted. Care and support is provided to people for up to a six week period. During that time people are supported and encouraged to regain their independence and to do as much for themselves as possible. After the six week period if longer term support is required the person would be referred to another agency.

People told us that they were visited at home at the start of the service and an assessment and care plan was completed. People said that they were involved in decisions made about their care and had been involved in care plan reviews. People we spoke with said that care staff treated them with respect. We were told carers were polite and friendly. One person said 'I am very happy with the service'.

People told us carer's stayed long enough to do everything they needed and that care staff take their time and do not rush. People we spoke with said that their carers arrived around the same time each day. We asked people if they had consistent carer's. People said no they do not always have the same carers. One person said 'I get different carer's, more consistency would be nice'. People we spoke with said they had never had a missed call. Care staff we spoke with said that they were allocated sufficient time to carry out the care and support required. Care staff said they are not allocated the same clients on a regular basis. Staff said as people are only with the service six weeks they would prefer to have regular clients.

Staff we spoke with knew what they would do to keep people safe. Staff spoken with knew about the whistle blowing procedure and said that they would have no hesitation reporting poor practice. They understood their responsibility for ensuring people who used the service had capacity to make their own decisions' and knew what to do if people needed support. Care staff we spoke with said that they would report any concerns to the staff in the office. They told us any concerns they had raised had been dealt with promptly.

We asked people who used the service if they were satisfied with the service they received. One person told us 'I am very happy, it's a brilliant service', and another said 'I don't know how I would have managed without it'.