We undertook an announced inspection on 25 February 2015 of Precious Homes Limited. We told the provider two days before our visit that we would be coming. We gave the provider notice of our inspection as we needed to make sure that someone was at the office in order for us to carry out the inspection. Three inspectors undertook the inspection.
This service is based in North London and is registered to provide personal care for people living in six supported living projects in North London. The service also provides care for people who live in their own accommodation outside of the supported living projects.
At our last inspection on 28 May 2013 the service met the regulations inspected.
There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.
However, the manager registered with the CQC was not the manager running and operating the service at the time of our inspection. The manager registered with the CQC still worked within the organisation. The manager responsible for the running of the home had applied to the CQC to be the registered manager and was in the process of the application.
People who used the service told us they felt safe in the service and around care staff. The provider had taken steps and arrangements were in place to ensure people were protected from abuse, or the risk of abuse. Staff knew how to recognise and report any concerns or allegations of abuse. Several safeguarding concerns had been reported to the safeguarding team and to the CQC. The service had responded promptly, co-operated with the safeguarding team and taken appropriate action to deal with them.
People were cared for by staff who were supported to have the necessary knowledge and skills to carry out their roles and responsibilities. Staff had been carefully recruited and provided with an induction and training they needed to enable them to care effectively for people. Staff we spoke with had a good understanding of the needs of people. Staff spoke positively about their experiences working at the service and the support they received from the manager.
On the day of our inspection we saw that people who used the service were treated with kindness and compassion by care staff. People were being treated with respect and dignity and staff provided prompt assistance but also encouraged people to build and retain their independent living skills.
The manager and members of staff showed a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and issues relating to consent. CQC is required by law to monitor the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) which applies to care services. DoLS ensure that an individual being deprived of their liberty is monitored and the reasons why they are being restricted is regularly reviewed to make sure it is still in the person’s best interests. Appropriate policies and procedures in respect of DoLS were in place. People were not restricted from leaving the supported living accommodation.
Care support plans were person-centred, detailed and specific to each person and their needs. We saw that people’s care preferences were also reflected. People were consulted and activities reflected people’s individual interests, likes and dislikes. People were supported to follow their interests, take part in them and maintain links with the wider community.
The service had an effective system in place to identify, assess and manage risks to the health, safety and welfare of people using the service and others. The service had a system in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service and this included regular audits. However, we noted that the service had not carried out a satisfaction survey in 2014.