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Archived: Pulse - Liverpool

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Unit F2, Cables Business Park, Prescot, Liverpool, L34 1PB

Provided and run by:
Pulse Healthcare Limited

Important: This service is now registered at a different address - see new profile

All Inspections

19 September 2016

During an inspection looking at part of the service

This was an unannounced inspection carried out on the 19 September 2016.

Pulse Liverpool is registered to provide personal care to adults and children in their own homes. There were 10 people using the service at the time of this inspection. Each person was in receipt of a bespoke care package which involved a team of staff delivering care and support in people’s homes and within the community. The service is based in an office on the first floor of a building. The office is accessible via a passenger lift and accessible toilet facilities are available.

There was a registered manager in post. 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.

We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of this service on 18 August 2015. After that inspection we received concerns in relation to how people’s care was planned for and delivered. As a result we undertook a focused inspection to look into those concerns. This report only covers our findings in relation to those/this topic. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Pulse Liverpool on our website at www.cqc.org.uk”

Systems were in place to regularly audit people’s care plans and the quality of service people received. We have made a recommendation in this report that the registered provider further develops this process to include the quality of the records maintained. This is because we found that the content and language in some daily record entries needed improvement.

People’s needs were assessed and planned for. Each person had their own care planning documents that detailed what support they required and how staff were to deliver the support. Care planning information was reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that up to date information about a person’s needs was available at all times.

Where potential risks had been identified, assessment of these risks took place and wherever possible, action was taken to minimise the risk from occurring. Action plans had been developed to help ensure that in the event of an emergency, for example a power cut, people’s needs could be safely met.

People were supported by a team of staff who had received specific training for their role. This enabled people’s care and support to be delivered safely.

Regular multi-disciplinary meeting took place between the service and other healthcare professionals and agencies involved in people’s care. This helped ensure that important information about people’s needs was shared.

Policies and procedures were in place to offer guidance and support to the staff team. This meant that staff knew how to support people in a safe, respectful manner.

The registered manager liaised on a regular basis with other healthcare professionals to ensure that people received the care and support they required.

18 & 21 August 2015

During a routine inspection

This was an announced inspection carried out on the 18 and 21 August 2015.

Pulse Liverpool is registered to provide personal care to adults and children in their own homes. There were 12 people using the service at the time of this inspection. Each person was in receipt of a bespoke care package which involved a team of staff delivering care and support in people’s homes and with the community. The service is based in an office on the first floor of a building. The office is accessible via a passenger lift and accessible toilet facilities are available. This was the first inspection of the service since its initial registration.

There was a registered manager in post. 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 Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the operation of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. We discussed the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and the associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) with the registered manager. The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) is legislation designed to protect people who are unable to make decisions for themselves and to ensure that any decisions are made in people’s best interests. Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) are part of this legislation and ensures where someone may be deprived of their liberty, the least restrictive option is taken. The registered manager demonstrated a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Staff confirmed that they had received training in the Mental Capacity Act 2005. At the time of this inspection one person who used the service had had their liberty and choices restricted under the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

People told us they felt safe when they were receiving care and support from the staff employed by the service. Staff were aware of their responsibilities to report any safeguarding concerns they may have.

Recruitment procedures which were in place helped to ensure that suitable people were employed to deliver care and support to people.

Risks to people were identified, planned for and regularly reviewed, this helped to ensure that people received safe care, treatment and support. People told us that the service was caring and that staff were respectful when delivering care and support.

People were supported by staff who received specific training and support to meet their individual needs. In addition, the service employed a registered nurse to advise and support people and their staff team with safe clinical care practices.

Systems were in place to help ensure that people received their medicines safely.

Regular meetings took place between the people who used the service and staff to ensure that people’s planned care and support was up to date and effective.

A complaints procedure was in place and people knew who to report their concerns to if they were unhappy.

The registered provider had quality assurances processes in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service that people received.