3 March 2015
During a routine inspection
The inspection took place on the 3 March 2015 and was announced. The provider was given two days’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be available at the location offices to see us.
Harrogate and Craven Crossroads -York branch provides domiciliary support to adults and children in people's homes, so that carers can take a break from their caring role. There were sixty seven people being supported when we carried out our visit.
The service has a registered manager who has worked at the service for over seventeen years. 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.’
At the previous inspection, which took place on 17 December 2013 the service was compliant with all of the regulations we assessed.
The service had safeguarding vulnerable adults and/or children policies and procedures in place, which were understood by staff. Staff received training in safeguarding vulnerable adults and/or children and all those spoken with confirmed that they would tell someone should any aspect of poor care be observed.
Staff identified and understood individual risks to people and worked with them to minimise these risks whilst also supporting them to remain as independent as possible.
People were positive about the staff who supported them. Appropriate recruitment checks were completed when new staff were employed.
People told us they were able to make choices. Their likes, dislikes and personal preferences were recorded within their care records and were known and understood by staff.
Training was provided for all staff and staff said this supported them in their roles. They received appropriate induction, training, supervision and support.
Staff understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). DoLS are part of the MCA (Mental Capacity Act 2005) legislation which is in place for people who are unable to make decisions for themselves. The legislation is designed to ensure that any decisions are made in people’s best interests.
People expressed positive comments regarding the service they received. They told us that their relatives were treated with kindness and compassion and said that staff respected people’s privacy and maintained their dignity at all times.
People told us that the registered manager and staff responded to their needs. Each person had individual care records which focused on them as a person. They told us that they could choose how to spend their time. The carers being supported said the service was invaluable to them.
The agency had not received any complaints as they dealt with any concerns immediately. The complaints procedure was given to people and people told us they could talk to staff if there was a problem.
The manager and a number of staff had been in post for a long time. They knew the service and the people they supported well.
The registered manager had an effective quality assurance system in place which ensured that the agency provided care to people in their own homes in a safe and effective way.