The Care Quality Commission
  • Services in your home
  • Homecare service

Archived: LocksCare

Lockswood Day Care Centre, Centre Way, Locks Heath, Southampton, Hampshire, SO31 6DX (01489) 572819

Provided and run by:
Locks Heath Day Care Trust

All Inspections

14 May 2013

During a routine inspection

At our previous inspection we had found essential standards were not being met with respect to safeguarding people using the service from abuse, monitoring the quality of service and records. During this inspection we checked that actions had been taken to address these areas. We also inspected other standards as part of our planned schedule of inspections.

People told us they were satisfied with the care and support they received and their care workers were caring and capable. One said, 'I am very happy with them all'. People said they felt safe and comfortable with their care workers. One told us, 'They help me in any way they can'. People confirmed their care and support were provided according to their plans and with their consent.

We found the service took steps to ensure people had agreed to their care, which was delivered according to personal assessments and plans. Arrangements had been made to protect vulnerable adults against the risk of abuse, and to ensure that medicines were handled appropriately. Staff were supported to deliver care to the required standard. The provider had systems to assess and monitor the quality of service, and accurate and appropriate records were kept.

In this report the name of a registered manager appears who was not in post and not managing the regulatory activities at this location at the time of the inspection. Their name appears because they were still a Registered Manager on our register at the time.

30 November and 4 December 2012

During a routine inspection

We spoke with four of the six people using the service. They told us that they were satisfied with the care they received and that the care staff treated them and their property with respect. One person said they were "very well looked after" and another that they "couldn't fault" the care staff. They told us that the staff were punctual, stayed for the correct period of time, knew what they were doing and were efficient and polite. None of the people we spoke with had had any problems or cause to complain.

We found that the service was making the necessary checks to ensure that people employed were of good character and had the right skills and experience. However the service had not taken reasonable steps to identify and prevent the possibility of abuse. The service was not maintaining appropriate records in respect of people using the service or in relation to the management of the regulated activity. It did not have systems in place to monitor and assess the quality of the service, identify and manage risks or to investigate complaints and comments.

We spoke to representatives of the provider who told us that the service was in a "state of flux" due to the retirement and illness of key people in the organisation. They had realised that improvements were necessary to meet the essential standards and had employed a temporary manager with the right skills and knowledge. We saw that care plans were in the process of being reviewed and rewritten.