The Care Quality Commission

Archived: Sheridan House

78a Mill Lane, Walsall, West Midlands, WS4 2BH (01922) 720684

Provided and run by:
Harmony Care Homes (2003) Limited

All Inspections

15 January 2013

During an inspection looking at part of the service

During our last inspection in June 2012 we had concerns about care and welfare of people who used the service, safeguarding and assessing and monitoring the quality of service provision.

The agency had sent us an action plan which identified what action they had taken to improve in these areas. We inspected the service to see if they had made the improvements they had told us they would. We found that the agency had made improvements and had procedures in place to monitor and continue these improvements.

We spoke with two members of staff, one person who used the service, and two relatives of people who used the service.

One relative told us, "We are very happy with the care my relative gets. The family are happy with the way they meet our relative's needs".

Another relative told us, "We have finally got the right fit for us. The carers really understand our relative's needs".

We found that care plans were person centred and clearly identified that people's needs were assessed, and that care was planned to meet these needs.

We found that the agency reported safeguarding issues appropriately, and had provided training for all staff in safeguarding matters.

We found that the service conducted appropriate and timely audits to monitor and assess the quality of the service they provided.

4 May 2012

During a routine inspection

We carried out this review to check on the care and welfare of people using this service. We visited Sheridan House in order to up date the information we hold and to establish that the needs of people using the service were being met. The visit was unannounced which meant the provider and the staff did not know we were coming.

During the inspection we spoke with the provider, the deputy manager and four members of staff. Following the visit we contacted people who use the service, family members and social workers.

A social worker told us that people who used the service had care assessments completed before the care delivery started. We saw copies of care plans that were available in people's homes. Staff told us that care plans were useful and gave them the necessary information to deliver appropriate care. We found, in the care plans we viewed, that they did not provide all information about people's needs or how they should be met. Detailed, accurate care plans are required to ensure that people who used the service would continue to receive appropriate care.

We saw that some people were supported with taking their medication. The records we viewed were of a poor quality and did not show evidence that people were having their medication as prescribed.

All the staff we spoke with, although not all trained, said they knew what to do if they had any concerns that people may be at risk of abuse. They all confirmed that they could raise concerns with senior staff within the organisation and that their concerns would be listened to.

There was some monitoring of the service provided by Harmony. The service had undertaken a survey for people who use the service and their families in order to monitor the quality of the service. Some of the comments from returned questionnaire were, 'Staff always on time and very helpful'. Harmony are a life support team for my family