Archived: Hartleys Care

Updated 27 January 2016

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.

We carried out this inspection on 11 December 2015 and it was announced at short notice. 48 hours’ notice of the inspection was given because of the nature of the service we needed to be sure that the service was occupied and the registered manager would be in.The inspection was carried out by an adult social care inspector.

During our inspection we spoke with two people who used the service and spoke with one member of care staff and the registered manager. We asked people for their views and experiences of the service and the staff who supported them.

The inspector visited the service to look at records around how people were cared for and how the service was managed.

We looked at the care records for four people and also looked at records that related to how the service was managed.

Before our inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service, including statutory notifications.

Updated 27 January 2016

We inspected Hartleys Care on 11 December 2015. Hartleys Care was last inspected in April 2014, no concerns were identified at that inspection.

Hartleys Care provides respite care for up to four people with learning disabilities. On the day of the inspection two people were receiving care services from the provider. The home 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.

During our visit to the service we looked at the care records for four people and looked at records that related to how the service was managed.

People who used this service were safe. The care staff knew how to identify if a person may be at risk of harm and the action to take if they had concerns about a person’s safety.

The care staff knew the people they were supporting and the choices they had made about their care and their lives. People who used the service, and those who were important to them, were included in planning and agreeing to the care provided.

The decisions people made were respected. People were supported to maintain their independence and control over their lives. People received care from a team of staff who they knew and who knew them.

We observed that people were treated with kindness and respect.

The registered manager used safe recruitment systems to ensure that new staff were only employed if they were suitable to work in people’s homes. The staff employed by the service were aware of their responsibility to protect people from harm or abuse. They told us they would be confident reporting any concerns to a senior person in the service or to the local authority or CQC.

There were sufficient staff, with appropriate experience, training and skills to meet people’s needs. The service was well managed and took appropriate action if expected standards were not met. This ensured people received a safe service that promoted their rights and independence.

Staff were well supported through a system of induction, training, supervision, appraisal and professional development. There was a positive culture within the service which was demonstrated by the attitudes of staff when we spoke with them and their approach to supporting people to maintain their independence.

The service was well-led. There was a comprehensive, formal quality assurance process in place. This meant that all aspects of the service were formally monitored to ensure good care was provided and planned improvements and changes were implemented in a timely manner.

There were good systems in place for care staff or others to raise any concerns with the registered manager.