Archived: Esk Moors Lodge

Esk Moors Caring Ltd is a not for profit company providing services including personal care to adults and older people. The agency, Esk Moors Lodge, has recently moved office to 23 High Street, Castleton.

The service has close links with Abbeyfields, an extra care housing scheme at Langburn Bank, Castleton, and has an agreement with this organisation to provide personal care and support to those tenants who are assessed to require this. The agency also provides care and support to people in the local area who do not live at Abbeyfields.

The service had a registered manager. 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 using the service told us they felt safe while staff were supporting them with personal care. Staff told us they were confident that if they had any concerns about people's safety, health or welfare then they would know what action to take, which would include reporting their concerns to the registered manager or to relevant external agencies.

Potential risks to people were assessed and used to develop plans of care to protect them from harm while maximising their freedom.

Staff had undergone a robust recruitment process and received training and supervision to enable them to meet people's needs in a safe and timely way. People's needs were met, which included support with meals and drinks when required. Staff liaised with health care services and external agencies where appropriate.

People's choices and decisions were recorded in their care records. Staff gained consent from people before delivering care. Staff promoted the rights and decisions of people and were aware

of the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005, though some staff told us they had not received training in this area. People's needs had been assessed prior to them receiving a service and they told us they had been involved in the development and reviewing of their care plans.

People were happy with the care and support they received. People made positive comments about staff and told us they were kind and helpful. We saw appropriate information was given to people using the service to ensure they knew how to raise concerns, or make a complaint. People also told us they were aware of how to raise concerns. The provider had not received any complaints within the last twelve months.

The service responded to people’s individual needs and preferences and care plans reflected the knowledge staff had of each person so that they could be placed in the centre of their care.

Systems were in place to check the quality of the service provided. The registered manager sought

regular feedback from people in order to develop and improve the service. Regular staff meetings were held where they were encouraged to voice their views. Staff told us that communication was effective and that they felt supported by the registered manager.

Staff who spoke with us said that they always tried to ensure they treated people who used the service with dignity and respect. They told us there was travelling time allowed in their rota. This meant they were on occasion, able to give extra time to people.

We saw several care plans and these identified the level of support each person needed. They also contained risk assessments. The documents had been signed by the person they were about.

People told us that they felt safe when receiving care and if they had any concerns they would report them to the office. Staff told us that if they had any concerns about the people they were supporting they would tell the manager.