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Archived: Caring About Sidmouth

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

9 Holmdale, Sidmouth, Devon, EX10 8DH (01395) 515586

Provided and run by:
Caring about Sidmouth

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

All Inspections

17 February 2016

During a routine inspection

The inspection took place on 17 February 2016 and was announced. The provider was given short notice because the location registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) is an office from which the provider runs a domiciliary care service. We needed to be sure that someone would be in. The inspection was carried out by two adult social care inspectors.

The service had been registered in 2012 but had moved its office location in June 2015. The new location had not been inspected. The last inspection at the previous location found the provider had met all the standards inspected.

Caring About Sidmouth provides personal care and support to people living in in their own homes in Sidmouth and the surrounding area. At the time of inspection, the service provided personal care to 14 people and also provided a social enablement service to one other person. Most people were receiving personal care for a number of hours each week, but the service also provided 24 hour support for one person.

The service was managed on a day to day basis by the provider who had registered with the CQC as the manager. Registered managers 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.

Throughout the inspection, people and their families described the service in glowing terms. Comments included “staff go over and above what one might expect. They have almost become friends rather than just workers.” The extra little things are what mean so much.”; “Staff are superb at supporting my mum” “staff will do the little extras, such as popping in for coffee or just to provide a bit of company.”

People said they felt safe with the care provided. One said the care was “very good.” While another said “all the girls are lovely.” A relative commented “Caring About Sidmouth gives me peace of mind, I can go away and leave my mum and know that she’s all right.” Another said “I leave Sidmouth each time knowing she is in very safe hands.”

Health and social care professionals were also very complimentary about the provider. For example one health professional described the provider as “a wonderful agency” adding “The nature of their care is fantastic, it’s enormously personal.”

Throughout the inspection there was evidence that the registered manager and staff delivered care to the highest standards, often undertaking additional tasks to ensure people were protected and had a good quality of life. This included providing additional support for one person overnight as well as kind deeds such as spending several hours looking for a person’s glasses when they had lost them. People told us they received a card, cake and flowers on their birthday. The registered manager had cooked a special meal for some people who did not have family nearby on occasions such as Christmas and Easter.

People were kept safe by staff who had been trained and supervised. People expressed confidence in staff and the management. They said staff were confident and knowledgeable about what they had to do. People and their relatives described how they were involved in developing their care plan initially and when a review took place. Care records showed that staff followed the care plan which described the person’s care. Staff supported people using this information whilst also recognising the need to allow them choice and promote their independence. People said staff knew them well and ensured they delivered care the way the person liked.

People were given a rota in advance which showed which staff would be visiting and at what time. To further support people, the provider had ensured that a laminated sheet of staff photographs was given to each person, so they were able to easily identify which member of staff would be visiting. People described how they found this really helpful, even though they generally got the same staff.

Staff had been recruited safely and their induction involved both training and shadowing more experienced staff. Staff were not allowed to work independently until they, the registered manager and the people they were supporting were happy for them to work on their own. Staff understood and were able to describe their roles in respect of safeguarding vulnerable adults. They had also received training to support their understanding of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the impact this could have on people they supported.

Staff were supported with training to ensure they were able to care for people effectively. Staff also undertook specialist training, such as PEG feeding and dementia awareness training to meet the needs of particular people. Staff were able, from time to time, develop their skills and knowledge by undertaking nationally recognised qualifications. The provider was supporting a member of staff to develop skills as a trainer so they would be able to offer bespoke training to the rest of the staff.

Staff commented that the registered manager and senior staff were very accessible and would always provide advice and support when needed. Health professionals commented that the registered manager worked closely with them, keeping them informed about changes in people. They also described how staff were responsive to and followed the advice they were given.

There were systems in place to ensure that medicines were administered, stored and recorded safely. Where errors had occurred there was evidence that the provider had taken appropriate actions to reduce the likelihood of similar events occurring. There were also regular audits and checks to ensure that other aspects of care met the high standards of the provider.

The provider had undertaken surveys of people and their relatives asking them about the quality of the care. The results of this had shown overwhelming approval and appreciation of the care provided. The registered manager recognised that it was important to look at ways to develop and enhance the services. They described initiatives that had been undertaken and were planned to continually monitor and improve the quality of Caring About Sidmouth.