6 January 2016
During a routine inspection
Carers Short Breaks Service provides respite and short break accommodation for people with either physical or learning disabilities and complex needs. The service is provided in Fishermead, near Milton Keynes. The service has 3 beds and at the time of our inspection there were three people using the service on a regular basis.
Our inspection took place on 6 January 2016. At the last inspection in December 2013, the provider was meeting the regulations we looked at.
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.
People felt safe in the service and with the support they received from staff. There were systems in place to protect people from the risk of harm and to ensure staff were able to report suspected abuse. Risks to people were assessed and assessments detailed the control measures that were in place to minimise the potential for future risk to occur.
There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to meet people’s needs and robust recruitment processes had been followed to ensure that staff were suitable to work with people.
Safe systems were in place for the administration, storage and recording of medicines.
Staff received on-going training which helped them to deliver safe and effective care to people. They received formal supervisions which helped them to monitor their progress and development.
Some people who used the service did not have the ability to make decisions about certain aspects of their care needs. Staff understood the systems in place to protect people who could not make decisions and followed the legal requirements outlined in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).
People had sufficient food and drink to maintain a healthy, balanced diet and were given choices about what they wanted to eat and drink.
Staff supported people to attend health appointments and made referrals to appropriate health professionals to ensure people’s general health and well-being.
Staff were knowledgeable about how to meet people’s needs and understood how people preferred to be supported on a daily basis. Staff had access to information on people’s abilities and needs, which allowed them to understand how they should provide good quality care. They understood how to promote and protect people’s rights and maintain their privacy and dignity.
People received person-centred care, based on their individual strengths, interests and needs. Feedback was sought from people and those important to them, such as family members on a regular basis to ensure that they remained satisfied with their care and support. This was used to help identify areas for development at the service. There were effective systems in place for responding to complaints.
The service had an open, positive and forward thinking culture. There were internal and external quality control systems in place to monitor quality and safety and to drive improvements. Staff were always thinking about ways to improve the delivery of service to people.