7, 10 February 2014
During a routine inspection
People told us that staff gained consent before they provided care. A relative we spoke with told us, "Staff always seeks my son's permission before they start care'. A person who used the service said, 'I have signed a lot of paperwork'.
People experienced effective, safe and appropriate care and support that met their needs and protected their rights. One person who used the service told us, 'A care plan is completed and I have chosen to have this kept in the office rather than my home'. Another person said, 'I have support with washing but I can get dressed myself'.
People who used the service were protected from the risk of abuse because the provider had taken reasonable steps to identify the possibility of abuse and prevent abuse from happening. All the people we spoke with said they felt safe. They also told us that they knew how to express any concerns they might have. A relative told us, 'Staff make me and my relative feel safe. [My relative] gets agitated and I have seen the support workers reassure them, they take their time and explain things that may change. They support them with the things they cannot do'.
There were enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet people's needs. A relative we spoke with told us, 'My brother has a regular support worker and I cannot speak highly enough of them'. All the staff we spoke with told us they felt there were enough staff working at the service.
We found records were kept appropriately for the benefit of the people who received care. However, audits of records were not available. We were told this was an oversight by the manager and would be corrected following our inspection.