21 June 2016
During a routine inspection
Bay View Care Limited provides supported living care services to adults who are living in their own homes. People had a variety of complex needs including learning disabilities, mental and physical health needs and behaviours that may challenge. The service operates in the county of Kent. There were 18 people receiving a supported living service at the time of our inspection.
There was a registered manager employed at the service. 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.
The registered manager and staff had received training about the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and understood when and how to support peoples best interest if they lacked capacity to make certain decisions about their care.
Staff had received training about protecting people from abuse and showed a good understanding of what their responsibilities were in preventing abuse. Staff were confident that they could raise any matters of concern with the registered manager, or the local authority safeguarding team.
The service provided sufficient numbers of staff to meet people’s needs and provide a flexible service. The service had robust recruitment practices in place. Applicants were assessed as suitable for their job roles. All staff received induction training which included essential subjects such as maintaining confidentiality, safeguarding adults and infection control. They worked alongside experienced staff and had their competency assessed before they were allowed to work on their own. Refresher training was provided at regular intervals. Staff had been trained to administer medicines safely and staff spoke confidently about their skills and abilities to do this well.
Working in community settings staff sometimes had to work on their own, but they were provided with good support and an ‘Outside Office Hours’ number to call during evenings and at weekends if they had concerns about people. The service could continue to run in the event of emergencies arising so that people’s care would continue. For example, when there was heavy snow or if there was a power failure at the main office.
People’s needs were assessed and care and support was planned to maintain people’s safety, health and well-being. Risks were assessed by staff to protect people. People told us that staff discussed their care with them so that they could decide how it would be delivered. Care plans were kept reviewed and updated. People were supported with meal planning, preparation and eating and drinking.
People spoke about the staff in a positive light regarding their feelings of being safe and well cared for. They thought that staff were caring and compassionate.
There were policies in place which ensured people would be listened to and treated fairly if they complained. The registered manager ensured that people’s care met their most up to date needs and any issues raised were dealt with to people’s satisfaction.
People were happy with the leadership and approachability of the service’s registered manager, house managers and team leaders. Staff felt well supported by managers. Audits were effective and risks were monitored by the registered manager to keep people safe. There were systems in place to monitor incidents and accidents.