12 December 2016
During a routine inspection
This comprehensive inspection took place on 12 & 14 December 2016 and was announced. It was carried out by one inspector.
The provider is required, as part of their registration, to have a registered manager. A registered manager was in post at the time of our visit. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage a registered service. 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 were kept safe because staff were knowledgeable about reporting any incident of harm. There were enough staff to support people with their individual needs. Pre-employment checks were completed so that only suitable staff looked after people who used the agency. People were supported to take their medicines as prescribed or were enabled to remain independent with this part of their care.
People were helped to be independent with eating and drinking and people took sufficient amounts of food and drink to keep them well. The nature of the care promoted and maintained their well-being and reduced their sense of social isolation. People were enabled to remain independent with making their own health care appointments.
The CQC is required by law to monitor the Mental Capacity Act 2005 [MCA 2005] and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards [DoLS] and to report on what we find. At the time of our inspection no person was assessed to lack capacity. Staff members had some understanding of the application of the MCA. The provider had some awareness of the actions to take if a person required a DoLS application to be made.
People benefited from being looked after by staff, who were trained and supported to do their job.
Staff treated people in a kind and caring way. People were actively consulted about their planned care. General advocacy services were not being used at the time of our inspection although the provider was aware of the availability of such services.
People’s individual health and social care needs were met. Staff had up-to-date information which enabled them to provider the right level of care to meet people’s assessed needs. There was a process in place so that people’s concerns and complaints were listened to and these were acted upon.
There were management arrangements in place which helped care staff to do their job. Staff were supported and managed to look after people in a safe way. Staff, people and their relatives were able to make suggestions and actions were taken, if these were needed. Quality assurance systems were in place to ensure that people were kept safe and well.