The Care Quality Commission
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Carers Break Community Interest Company

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Office A105 Advent House, Station Approach, Victoria, Roche, St. Austell, PL26 8LG (01726) 890828

Provided and run by:
Carers Break Community Interest Company

Important: This service was previously registered at a different address - see old profile

All Inspections

12 September 2017

During a routine inspection

Carers Break provides care and support to predominantly older people in their own homes. The service offers sessions of a minimum of two hour care sessions during the day, and a minimum of nine hour sessions at night. The majority of people who used the service, at the time of the inspection, were elderly, although the service also provided services to younger adults. The service provides help with people’s personal care needs throughout Cornwall. People who used the service may be using it on a short term and /or short notice basis for example one night; or using it on an ongoing basis.

At the time of our inspection 20 people were using the service on an on- going basis. These services were funded either privately, through Cornwall Council or NHS funding.

There was a registered manager in post who was responsible for the day-to-day running of the service. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We carried out this announced inspection on 11 and 18 September 2017. The inspection was announced in line with the Care Quality Commission’s approach to inspecting care agencies. The service was last inspected in June 2015 when it was rated as ‘good’. At this inspection we found the service remained Good

People were positive about the support they received from the service. They said the service was, “Excellent,” “I am very happy with them,” and “I don’t think you would find a better service…I highly recommend them.” A relative told us: “I am very happy with the service…the carers they provide are excellent.” An external professional told us: “Their commitment to providing excellent care to their clients, predominantly through the night hours is evident.” A staff member said, “The real difference with Carers Break is because of the two hour minimum in place so we are able to make sure that there is time for the clients’ needs.”

People told us they felt safe. Staff had received training in how to recognise and report abuse. All were clear about how to report any concerns and were confident that any allegations made would be fully investigated to help ensure people were protected.

There were enough suitably qualified staff available to meet people’s needs. The service was flexible and responded to people’s changing needs. People told us they had a team of regular staff and mostly their visits were at the agreed times. People told us they had never experienced a missed care visit.

People received care from staff who knew them well, and had the knowledge and skills to meet their needs. People and their relatives spoke very highly of staff and typical comments included; “The carers are exceptional, fully aware of responsibilities and sensitivities,” “They are helpful and friendly,” and, “I have been struck by their attitude and integrity.”

Staff were knowledgeable about the people they cared for and knew how to recognise if people’s needs changed.

Staff were aware of people’s preferences and interests, as well as their health and support needs, which enabled them to provide a personalised service. Staff were kind and compassionate and treated people with dignity and respect.

The management had a clear understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and how to make sure people who did not have the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves had their legal rights protected.

Staff told us there was good communication with the management of the service. People said the office staff were “Very approachable,” Management were described as, “Very approachable, supportive and very helpful.” A member of staff said, “In my opinion they have the right attitude towards their staff and they provide excellent care for their clients. Time to care is their ethos and this is evident by the way they manage the company.”

There were effective quality assurance systems in place. The service had an effective management team, and Care Quality Commission registration, and notification requirements had been complied with.

3 June 2015

During a routine inspection

We carried out this announced inspection on 3 June 2015. We told the provider five days before that we would be coming. This was the first inspection since the service had re-registered at a new location in May 2015.

Carers Break Community Interest Company is a domiciliary care service that provides care and support to adults of all ages, in their own homes. The service provides help with people’s personal care needs across all areas of Cornwall. This includes people with physical disabilities, dementia care needs and care at the end of their lives. The service provides long-term care at night, day duties for a minimum of two hours and live-in care packages. Much of the care provided is to give family carers a break from looking after their relative. As well as providing long-term services Carers Break provides short-term respite overnight care to give families a break during a crisis, support people discharged from hospital or provide end of life care. The service provided an ‘out of hours night support service’ under a pilot contract with the Kernow Clinical Commissioning Group (KCCG).

At the time of our inspection 12 people were receiving a long-term personal care service. These services were funded either privately, through Cornwall Council or NHS funding.

There was a registered manager in post who was responsible for the day-to-day running of the service. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People we spoke with told us they felt safe using the service. Relatives told us, “I am happy to go out and leave my mother with the care worker” and “when they [staff] are looking after my husband I trust them”. Staff had received training in how to recognise and report abuse. All were clear about how to report any concerns and were confident that any allegations made would be fully investigated to help ensure people were protected.

There were sufficient numbers of suitably qualified staff to meet the needs of people who used the service. Staff were matched to the people they supported according to their own skills and interests and the needs of the person. The service was flexible and responded to people’s changing needs.

People received care from staff who knew them well, and had the knowledge and skills to meet their needs. One person told us, “compared to staff I have had from other agencies these staff [Carers Break] are excellent”. A relative told us, “staff are fantastic”. A healthcare professional told us, “they provide competent and skilled staff”. Staff were knowledgeable about the people they cared for and knew how to recognise if people’s needs changed. Staff were aware of people’s preferences and interests, as well as their health and support needs, which enabled them to provide a personalised service. Staff were kind and compassionate and treated people with dignity and respect.

The registered manager and staff had a clear understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and how to make sure people who did not have the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves had their legal rights protected.

There was a positive culture in the service, the management team provided strong leadership and led by example. The provider/registered manager had clear visions and values about how they wished the service to be provided and these values were shared with the whole staff team. One care worker told us, “this is the best agency I have worked for, they look after people and staff well. I feel totally supported and valued”.

People and their families told us the management team was very approachable and they were included in decisions about the running of the service. People told us someone from the office rang and visited them regularly to ask about their views of the service and review the care and support provided. Staff were encouraged to challenge and question practice and were involved in making improvements to the service.

The service worked in partnership with other health and social care professionals to seek their advice about current practices and monitor the quality of the service provided. Health and social care professionals were all very positive about working with the service and how the service sought different ways to improve the quality of the service provided.