Harrow and Brent Community Support

Updated 30 May 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

The provider was given 48 hours' notice so they could gain consent and arrange for us to visit people who used this service. The inspection visit took place on 25 April 2018 where we visited the office and spoke with the registered manager, the regional manager and two care workers. We also spoke with three people who used the service. This was the first inspection of this service and was carried out by one inspector.

The provider returned to us a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once a year to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We looked at three people's care records to see if these were accurate and up to date. We also looked at records provided to people, including staff employment and training records, medicines administration records and records relating to the management of the service including quality checks.

Updated 30 May 2018

This inspection took place on 25 April 2018 and was announced. This was the first inspection of MHT – Harrow since registering with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in April 2017.

MHT – Harrow provides care and support to six people living in a ‘supported living’ setting, so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible. People who used the service may have a physical disability, learning disability or mental illness. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. MHT – Harrow does also provide floating support to number of individuals living in the community.

Not everyone using MHT – Harrow received regulated activity. CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided. People using the service each lived in a one bedroom apartment within a purpose built building. There was a communal lounge, large garden and a second room for people to use for meetings. The property is close to public transport and local shops and supermarkets are in walking distance.

There was a manager registered with the CQC. 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 who used the service told us that they felt safe. Care workers received training in safeguarding adults and demonstrated good understanding in how to protect people from abuse and recognised where people may be at risk of harm. We saw clear processes to minimise risks to people's safety. These included procedures in how to manage identified risks with people's care and for managing people's medicines safely. There were enough suitably trained care workers deployed to deliver safe and effective care to people who used the service. The provider carried out recruitment checks prior to care workers starting work to ensure their suitability to support people who used the service. People who used the service were involved in the recruitment process.

The service ensured that people were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. Care workers ensured people who used the service were supported in the least restrictive way possible. People who used the service told us they were able to choose how they wanted to receive their support. Care plans and risk assessments contained relevant information to help care workers to provide the personalised care people required.

People who used the service were supported by a small care team, which was known to them and they felt comfortable with. People who used the service told us that they had good relationships with care worker and felt comfortable asking them questions and raising any concerns. Care was planned and reviewed with people who used the service in mind and the provider ensured that people's choices were followed. People's privacy and dignity was respected and upheld by the care workers who supported them. People knew how to make a complaint if they needed to. People were confident they could raise any concerns or issues with care workers and the registered manager, knowing they would be listened to and acted on.

People were asked for their feedback on the quality of the service. Their contribution supported the development of the service. Quality assurance systems were in place to identify where improvements could be made and the provider worked in conjunction with others to share ideas and to develop the service.