7 February 2017
During a routine inspection
Care Service (MK) CIC provides personal care to people with learning disabilities and autism that live in their own homes in order for them to maintain their independence. At the time of our inspection, the service supported people living across two sites within Milton Keynes, both were bungalows that had been converted into self-contained flats where people had their own tenancies, and staff on site at all times.
At the time of our inspection the provider confirmed they were providing personal care to 5 people.
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. 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.
Staff had a very good understanding of abuse and the safeguarding procedures that should be followed to report abuse. Staff were highly confident in reporting anything of concern. People had detailed risk assessments in place to enable them to be as independent as possible.
Staffing levels were adequate to meet people's current needs. The service employed enough staff to ensure that people were supported at the right level at all times.
The staff recruitment procedures were robust and detailed. This ensured that appropriate pre-employment checks were carried out so only suitable staff worked at the service.
We saw that medicines were administered and stored safely. Staff received training and competency checks to ensure that medication was administered safely.
Staff induction training and on-going training was provided to ensure they had the skills, knowledge and support they needed to perform their roles. Detailed and innovative methods of training ensured that all staff had an excellent and in depth knowledge of how to support people and achieve their desired goals. All the training received was relevant and up to date, and included specific training on each individual being supported.
Staff skills and experience were organised and utilised effectively to maximise positive outcomes for people. The service had put together areas of expertise for people to champion and had employed highly qualified staff to offer their knowledge and skill throughout the staff team.
Staff told us they were well supported by the registered manager and senior team, and had regular one to one supervisions. Staff valued supervision time and used it to give and receive feedback on the service they were providing.
People's consent was gained before any care was provided and the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were met.
People were able to buy and choose the food and drink they wanted and staff supported people with this. People had been able to improve their independence and health through the on-going support that staff had given with food, drink, shopping and cooking.
People were encouraged to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and were supported to access health appointments when necessary. A variety of healthcare professionals were involved in people’s on-going care, which was supported by the service.
Staff treated people with kindness, dignity and respect and spent time getting to know them and their specific needs and wishes. Staff including the management, had an excellent knowledge of people’s needs.
People were involved in their own care where possible, and family members were involved when required. People and their family were able to contribute to the way in which they were supported.
The service had a complaints procedure in place to ensure that people and their families were able to provide feedback about their care and to help the service make improvements where required.
Quality monitoring systems and processes were used effectively to drive future improvement and identify where action was needed.