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Archived: Housing & Care 21 - Elkin Court

42a Hardwick Road, Partington, Trafford, Manchester, M31 4DT 0370 192 4980

Provided and run by:
Housing 21

All Inspections

18 July 2013

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We visited this service on 18 July to see what improvements had been made to the recording of medication since our inspection in May 2013. The provider sent us an action plan following our last visit, telling us what they were going to do to make sure people who used the service received their medicines safely.

During our inspection in May we found that staff were not recording each medicine they administered to people who used the service. At this visit we found evidence that individual medicines had been recorded on the two medication administration records that we looked at. These records also listed a description of each medicine, the dosage, frequency and route of administration. This provided evidence that medicine was being recorded and administered to people in a safe way.

We found a written instruction on one of the medicine records for staff to leave the person's lunch and evening medication in an egg cup when they conducted the morning visit. No risk assessment was in place to ensure it was safe for staff to do this. However, a senior member of staff conducted the risk assessment and updated the paperwork before the end of our visit. We noted that the person had requested their medication be handled in this way.

24 May 2013

During a routine inspection

People who used this service had been asked to consent to the care and support they were receiving. Suitable arrangements were in place to obtain valid consent from people who lacked the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves.

Robust assessments of need were undertaken before people started to receive personal care and support. Risks to the safe delivery of care had also been assessed and were managed well. Care plans had been consistently updated when people's needs had changed.

People who used the service had been placed at risk by a change in the way their prescribed medicines had been recorded. Following our visit the provider gave an assurance that immediate action would be taken to ensure that people who used the service received their medicines safely. We will revisit the service to make sure that appropriate improvements have been made.

We found that staff had received training that was appropriate for them to safely meet the needs of people who used the service.

Effective systems were in place to monitor, review and improve the quality of care and support provided to people who used this service.

12 July 2012

During a routine inspection

At the time of our inspection Housing 21 was providing a personal care service to 15 people. Following our visit to their office, the manager arranged for us to telephone two people using the service, a relative and three members of staff, to gather their views of the service provided. We were unable to make telephone contact with one member of staff and a person using the service.

We asked the people we spoke with their views on the quality of the service provided by Housing 21. The relative and person using the service told us that they were satisfied with the quality of care and support provided. They confirmed that they had a good rapport with support staff and described them as competent, respectful and excellent.

The person using the service told us that the support workers knew exactly what they wanted them to do. They said, "The staff have helped me through a very difficult time and have given me so much emotional support. I would have been absolutely lost without them."

Both people we spoke with told us that staff provided care and support in a safe manner. They knew who to talk to if they had any concerns and they were confident that any concerns they had would be dealt with appropriately.

The person using the service told us that their medicines had been administered correctly. They added that their medical condition had improved because staff had been diligent in following their treatment regime.

A person using the service told us, "I would have been absolutely lost without Housing 21. I don't want anyone else to provide my care. They are worth their weight in gold."