Background to this inspection
Updated
21 March 2016
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
This inspection took place on 6 January 2016 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be in.
The inspection team consisted of two inspectors and an expert by experience. An expert-by-experience is a person who had personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
As part of the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service and the provider. This included statutory notifications received from the provider about deaths, accidents and safeguarding alerts. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.
As part of our planning for the inspection we asked the local authority and Healthwatch to share any information they had about the provider. We used this information to help plan our inspection.
Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
We were not able to talk directly with people receiving care and support. We spoke with six relatives, the registered manager, four support workers and one advocate.
We looked at the care and support plans for two people. In addition we looked at risk assessments, staff recruitment, staff training records and records of quality checks completed by the provider.
Updated
21 March 2016
This inspection took place on 6 January 2016 and was announced.
Hereford North provides personal care to people with a learning disability who live in their own homes in Herefordshire. 18 people were receiving support at the time of our inspection.
There was 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.
People were protected from harm and abuse because they were supported by staff who knew how to recognise and respond appropriately. Staff did not start work until appropriate checks had been made to make sure they were suitable to support people in their homes.
People and those that mattered to them were involved in planning their own care. Staff understood how to support the people they were assisting whilst protecting their human rights. People had their individual needs met by staff who knew them and responded to any changes in need or wellbeing. Staff sought medical assistance and advice when required. People had regular access to healthcare facilities to maintain well-being.
Staff supported people to maintain their independence and to develop new skills and interests. Staff provided care which was kind, compassionate and promoted people’s privacy and dignity. People were encouraged to make their own choices and decisions.
Staff received induction and ongoing training in order for them to provide care. Staff were supported by the management team and received regular feedback on performance. The managers were approachable and accessible to people and staff.
The provider completed regular quality checks to ensure that good standards of care were maintained.