5 February 2015
During a routine inspection
This inspection took place on 5 February 2015 and was announced. The service provides care, including personal care, for five people with various needs including physical disability, mental health needs and learning disabilities living in their own homes. The service was registered in July 2014 and this was its first inspection since registration.
The service had a registered manager in place. 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.
The service had been developed to enable people with support and care needs to have more choice and control over who provides their care. People were fully involved throughout the process of assessment, choosing their care staff member and in agreeing how their care needs would be met.
People's needs were well met and they spoke highly of the service. They felt care was provided with consideration and their privacy was respected at all times. Care plans provided staff with detailed information about how to meet people’s needs and people were involved in regular reviews of their care. Care plans contained risk assessments which specified action required reducing risks and ensuring health and personal care needs were known and met by care staff.
Should medication be required systems were in place to ensure this was managed safely.
The service was flexible and people were able to change the time of their care if they needed to. The registered manager monitored the quality of the service by checking daily care records and through regular contact with staff and people.
There was evidence of ongoing changes to the service to ensure it met people’s needs and improve the service provided. People and their relatives were complimentary about the management of the service. They felt their views were listened to and action taken when required to improve the service they received.
People felt safe with staff and there were appropriate policies and procedures in place to safeguard people from abuse. Staff had received safeguarding training and knew how to respond to concerns. The provider followed safe recruitment practices.
Staff received essential training during induction to give them the skills and knowledge to meet people’s needs. Where additional specific training was required this was organised. Staff received regular formal supervision and informal support was also provided. Staff enjoyed working for the service and spoke positively about the registered manager and senior staff.