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Archived: Fremantle Connect

Woodley House, 64-65 Rabans Close, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, HP19 8RS (01296) 737390

Provided and run by:
The Fremantle Trust

All Inspections

26 September 2013

During an inspection looking at part of the service

When we visited the service on 7 June 2013, we had concerns about three areas of practice: care and welfare of people who use the service, supporting workers and records. Compliance actions were set for each standard. The provider sent us an action plan which outlined how they intended to improve practice.

We returned to the service on 26 September 2013. We found improvements had been made in each area where there had been concerns.

We read four people's care plans. We noted improvements to information about people's support requirements. This meant there was now clarity for staff on how to meet people's needs. Risk assessments had been written for each person. These included moving and handling and health and safety assessments. The assessments identified where, for example, people needed two staff to assist them. Two staff were then allocated to carry out visits to these people. This showed care was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare.

The manager had carried out a training needs analysis since our last inspection. Any gaps to individual training had been identified and courses booked for all relevant staff.

We looked at training records for five members of staff. These showed staff received appropriate professional development. There was evidence of several courses being completed since we last visited. These included health and safety awareness, first aid and moving and handling. Dates were identified within the next few weeks for any courses which still needed to be completed. This ensured all staff would complete the full range of training required by the provider.

We found people's personal records were accurate and fit for purpose. Files had been updated since our last visit and old information archived. Documents were easier to locate in care plan files and important details were stored at the front. This ensured staff could find information quickly when needed, such as people's GP details.

Records were kept securely and could be located promptly when needed. We saw all the records we requested were kept in the manager's office. Staff were able to access this when they needed to.

Staff records and other records relevant to the management of the service were accurate and fit for purpose. These included training records and medication records.

We were satisfied the provider had made sufficient improvements to become compliant with these standards.

7 June 2013

During a routine inspection

We contacted three people who use the service and two relatives/primary carers. Each person provided positive feedback about the service. Comments included 'It's given us peace of mind,' 'It's very good, I'm very pleased with it,' and 'A first class service.' People spoke positively about care workers. They had not experienced any visits being missed.

We found care was not consistently planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. This was because risk assessments were not always in place where needed. Care plans had not always been written in sufficient detail to outline support people required.

There were procedures for making complaints. We saw complaints were investigated by the provider and measures were put in place to address any issues.

We also used this inspection visit to follow up on actions arising from our visit in October 2012. Improvements had been made to how staff were supported. Staff felt supported in their roles. There was a programme of on-going courses to develop staff in their roles. We found there were some instances of gaps in care workers' training.

We found improvements had been made to how the service was monitored and assessed by the provider. Surveys had been sent to people to seek their views and a quality audit had been carried out this year.

Records were being returned to the office when completed. We noticed there were gaps on some of the medication records which had been returned.

29 October 2012

During a routine inspection

People and their relatives told us they were happy with the care and support they received. They said someone from the agency had visited them before a package of care was drawn up to determine what care and support was required. People told us the care staff respected their independence and encouraged and supported them to make their own choices and decisions. One relative said continuity of care was vital for them and the provider had taken every step to see this had been achieved each week.

People who used the service told us they felt safe receiving care from the agency and if they had any concerns they knew who to speak to. One relative we spoke with described the care their relative received as 'good' and told us 'they feel very safe and secure'.

Staff had been provided with appropriate training to give them the knowledge and skills to undertake their roles competently. Staff felt well supported in their roles and enjoyed working for the agency. However there was a lack of monitoring of staff practices.

People told us care staff always asked them regularly if they were happy with the care provided or if they required anything to be changed. Where changes were required, these were made according to their wishes. The agency's auditing system needed to be developed to identify areas where improvements could be made.