15 January 2015
During a routine inspection
We undertook an announced inspection of Explora Haven on 15 January 2015. We told the provider two days before our visit that we would be coming. Explora Haven is a domiciliary care agency which provides personal care in people’s homes and buddy services to people with learning disabilities, younger adults, children and older people. Buddy services included accompanying people to activities and outings. The services they provide include personal care, housework and assistance with medication. During the day of our visit the service provided care and support to 30 people, approximately five people received buddy services which did not include personal care.
At our last inspection in March 2014 the service was meeting the regulations inspected.
There is a registered manager in place. 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.
Safeguarding adults from abuse procedures were robust and care workers understood how to safeguard the people they supported. The registered manager and care workers had received training on safeguarding adults and were able to explain the possible signs of abuse as well as the correct procedure to follow if they had concerns.
Safe practices for administering medicines were followed.
We saw that there were policies, procedures and information available in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) to ensure that people who could not make decisions for themselves were protected. Staff spoken with demonstrated good understanding of the MCA and DoLS and how to obtain consent from people who used the service.
People and their relatives were involved in decisions about their care and how their needs were met. People had care plans in place that reflected their assessed needs.
Safe recruitment procedures ensured that only staff that were suitable working with vulnerable people were employed. There was an induction programme for new staff, which prepared them to do their role. Staff were provided with a range of training to help them carry out their duties. Staff received regular supervision and appraisal to support them to meet people’s needs. There were enough care workers employed in the service to meet people’s needs.
People were supported to eat and drink where required. People were supported effectively with their health needs. People were involved in making decisions about what kind of support they wanted.
Staff and people who used the service felt able to speak with the registered manager and provided feedback on the service. They knew how to make complaints and there was an effective complaints policy and procedure in place. We found complaints were dealt with appropriately and in accordance with the policy.
The service carried out regular audits to monitor the quality of the service and to plan improvements. Where concerns were identified action plans were put in place to rectify these.