• Care Home
  • Care home

Archived: Touchsky Care Home

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

240-244 Odessa Road, London, E7 9DY 07922 499733

Provided and run by:
Touchsky Limited

All Inspections

16 November 2016

During a routine inspection

The inspection took place on the 16 November 2016 and was unannounced. This was the service’s first inspection and there were no previous breaches of the regulations.

The service provides 24 hour accommodation and support to nine people with mental health needs. People had individual bedrooms with a sink, bathroom facilities were shared.

The service had a registered manager. 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.

The registered manger had training on the day of the inspection, we were fully supported on the inspection by the deputy manager.

People said they felt safe at the service. Staff kept people safe by observing them while in the service and in the community. Appropriate risk assessments were in place to mitigate risks faced by people. Staff knew how to escalate potential abuse within the service or to outside agencies.

Medicines procedures were followed by staff and medicines were handled safely. All staff demonstrated safe practices when administering and recording medicines.

People were supported by staff that had been recruited safely as relevant checks had been completed before staff worked at the service.

People made choices about how they wanted to be cared for and staff listened to them which meant care was personalised.

Staff received regular training and support at the service and could approach management if they had further queries or concerns.

People were not restricted in their movements in the service or within the community. Where people needed support to travel to unfamiliar areas staff would accompany them. Staff understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) and they helped people to make decisions and sought people’s consent.

Food was prepared by staff and people could prepare meals with staff support. People enjoyed the food offered and were also able to choose alternatives if they wanted. People were encouraged to maintain a healthy diet and weight and staff listened to the guidance provided by health professionals.

People were cared for by kind compassionate staff who spent time listening and taking people to activities they enjoyed in the community. People’s end of life wishes were discussed with people and these had been respected and documented in their care plans.

Management was available to support staff and people and positive interactions were seen between everyone at the service. The atmosphere at the service was calm and organised. The service maintained clear records and carried out audits to check the quality of the service.

We have made one recommendation about displaying feedback from relative’s surveys.

5 March 2014

During a routine inspection

We spoke to two people who used the service and observed care and interactions between staff and three people during lunch time. We found that staff were aware of people's needs and reassured people appropriately.

At our previous visit we were concerned that staff had not received appraisals and had no clear personal development plans. On this visit we spoke to three staff and reviewed five appraisals records and confirmed that all eight staff had received an appraisal and were working towards their personal goals. We found that regular supervision and staff meetings were still in place and all staff had a national vocational qualification (NVQ).

2 October 2013

During a routine inspection

We spoke with people who used the service who told us about how they were able to exercise choice in terms of activities and about the outings they had been on in recent months. People also told us about the community activities they were involved in as well as the support they received from the staff group to access these. We observed staff interactions with people were appropriate and professional and saw staff offering choice in terms of meals and activities.

There was evidence that the provider had undertaken assessments of individual needs and had worked appropriately with other professionals. We saw that individual needs and preferences had been recorded with people who used the service and that care plans were reviewed regularly. We saw that the provider had offered choice in terms of meals and that individual likes, dislikes, as well as religious and cultural preferences had been considered. We also saw that people had sufficient quantities of food and drinks and that regular health checks had taken place.

The provider showed us that the staff group were receiving appropriate training, induction and on-going supervision; however, we found that staff did not receive feedback on their performance in the manner of a formal appraisal.

We found evidence that the provider had accurate and appropriate records in place for both people who used the service and members of staff and that these records were securely stored.

7 January 2013

During a routine inspection

We looked at the personal care or treatment records of people who use the service, carried out a visit on 7 January 2013, observed how people were being cared for and talked with people who represent the interests of people who use services. We talked with people who use the service, talked with carers and / or family members and talked with staff.

We found that people generally spoke highly of the staff and there was a recognition that activities were taking place. Others commented that their input into the care planning process had been valued and that there was regular communication between the unit and family representatives.

We also examined documentation held on site and found that individual needs were being assessed and that regular reviews were taking place, involving other professionals including GPs, CPNs and social workers. From the records and discussions with staff we noted evidence that the issues of choice and consent to care and treatment were being discussed and recorded appropriately.

16 January 2012

During a routine inspection

People told us that they were happy living here. 'I like the peace and quiet. Its quite cut off and I like that. I've been here 18 years. Staff are quite good. I'd like my own place really but you get used to it. '

'Staff are lovely.I get on well with the other people here." " I have a care plan and I help make food- patties. I go to college and go to the park and stuff.'