Archived: Kalyan Ashram

Updated 12 January 2015

This inspection was undertaken over one day, by an inspector and an expert by experience. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. This expert had experience of caring for older people, and was able to speak a number of languages used by people within the Asian community. This ensured we got direct feedback from as many of the people using the service as possible.

Before the inspection we reviewed information we already held about this service. This included the last inspection report, notifications sent to us by the provider and the provider information return. (PIR) The PIR is a document that gives us information from the providers perspective about the service.

During the inspection we spoke with six of the seven people using the service, the two care staff on duty, the manager and reviewed three care records. We also looked at records about recruitment, training and health and safety. After the visit we contacted three relatives and three healthcare professionals who supported people at Kalyan Ashram to obtain their feedback about the service. We were able to eat lunch with people in the communal area of the service and talk to people in small groups about the activities and food on offer.    

Updated 12 January 2015

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 and to pilot a new inspection process being introduced by CQC which looks at the overall quality of the service.

The inspection was announced two days before we visited the service. Giving notice ensured we got to meet and speak with as many of the people using the service and the staff that support them as possible. This meant we were able to get their direct feedback about the service.

Kalyan Ashram is a complex of 24 individual flats and bed sits. This was a specialist service providing support to people of the Asian community who may require help because of dementia, old age, physical disability, sensory impairment, mental ill health or learning disability. People had their own tenancy agreement for the accommodation they occupied. At the time of our inspection seven of the 24 tenants were receiving help with their personal care. 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 and has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law; as does the provider

The service was last inspected in January 2014 and at that time we found it was compliant and meeting the needs of the people using the service.

We found that people were receiving a good level of care and support from Kalyan Ashram. People told us they liked being supported by staff who understood their language, culture and faith.

We found that people were safe and being protected from the risk of harm. People told us they felt safe. We found that the manager had systems in place that would identify risks to people’s safety. Staff we spoke with told us the service would pass the “mum test.” That meant they would be happy for a relative of theirs to use the service.

People told us they liked and trusted the staff, some of whom had worked at Kalyan Ashram for many years. Staff we spoke with had in depth knowledge about people’s care needs, and were also able to tell us about people’s life history and friends and family who were important to each person.

People told us they liked the independence that the service enabled them to maintain. People told us  that the service was flexible and the times and lengths of calls could be adapted to meet people’s individual needs

The manager of Kalyan Ashram had worked at the service for several years and had got to know people’s needs well over that time. People told us the manager was approachable and supportive. People using the service had opportunities to get involved in the running and development of the service. This included attending focus groups, completing questionnaires and by approaching the staff or the manager directly.