Archived: 60 Holmes Rd

The Camden Society offers support to people with a learning disability at their own home or in the community. At the time of the inspection the service was providing personal care to four people; three in their own homes and one in a supported living scheme.

The service has 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 and relatives told us they felt safe. Procedures and policies relating to safeguarding people from harm were in place and accessible to staff. All staff had completed training in safeguarding adults and demonstrated an understanding of types of abuse to look out for and how to raise safeguarding concerns.

Detailed current risk assessments were in place for people using the service. Risk assessments in place were reviewed and updated regularly. The risk assessments explained the signs to look for when assessing the situation and the least restrictive ways of mitigating the risk based on the individual needs of the person. People were supported to take positive risks.

Medicines were managed safely and effectively and there were regular medication audits in place. Staff had completed medication training and the service had a clear medication policy in place which was accessible to staff. Risk assessments specific to medicines were in place for people who were supported to take medicines.

We saw friendly, caring and supportive interactions between staff and people and staff knew the needs and preferences of the people using the service.

Care plans were person centred and reflected what was important to the person. Care needs are regularly reviewed and updated to meet the changing needs of people who use the service.

We saw evidence of a comprehensive staff induction and on-going training programme. Staff were also safely recruited with necessary pre-employment checks carried out. Staff had regular supervisions and annual appraisals.

All staff had received training on the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and staff understood what to do if they had concerns as regards people's mental capacity. These safeguards are there to make sure that people are receiving support are looked after in a way that does not inappropriately restrict their freedom. Services should only deprive someone of their liberty when it is in the best interests of the person and there is no other way to look after them, and it should be done in a safe and correct way.

People are supported to maintain good health and have access to healthcare services.

The service regularly requested feedback from people who use the service.

People were encouraged and supported to access the community and engage in a wide range of activities of their choosing.

The management team enabled an open culture that encouraged staff and people to discuss issues and ideas.

The provider had an effective and comprehensive quality monitoring system to ensure standards of service were maintained and improved.

Staff told us that in their opinion the organisation provided 'really good care' and they told us they had received sufficient support and training in order to meet people's needs.

Before people received any care or treatment they were asked for their consent and the provider acted in accordance with their wishes.

Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare.

People were cared for, or supported by, suitably qualified, skilled and experienced staff.

The provider had an effective system to regularly assess and monitor the quality of service that people receive.

There was an effective complaints system available. Comments and complaints people made were responded to appropriately.

Staff supported people's involvement; one person said "I do everything by myself, they help me with letters'. Another person said that they felt appropriate choice was offered to them. We observed staff were supporting people in a respectful and professional way.

People's care needs were met. We were told by people who use the service that staff supported them with activities and with attending medical appointments.

Relatives of people using the service told us that they felt they were involved in their relative's care and consulted by the service if there was a need. When talking about the provider one relative told us 'they are wonderful' and another person said 'I know I can trust them'.

We saw that risks to people were being identified and plans being put in place to minimise these.

People using the service were offered the opportunity to meet with a new staff who would be providing care to them to check whether they were happy to be supported by this person. One person said 'when I was not happy with the staff I told the manager and she said this was fine.' They said that the staff was changed to 'suit my personality'.

People told us that that The Camden Society 'does very good job'. The quality of the service provided was monitored by the organisation.