Archived: NAS Community Services (Godalming)

Updated 21 January 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

The inspection took place on 10 and 15 November 2016 and it was announced. 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. One inspector carried out this inspection. At the time of this inspection the service had three people who used their service.

Before the inspection the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. In addition, we reviewed information we held about the service. This included any notifications and reports provided by the service.

We spoke with two people who used the service. We were not able to speak to people’s relatives because they were not available to speak with us. We also spoke with the registered manager, four care workers, team leader and the registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records about people’s care and how the service was managed. These included the care records for three people using the service, staff recruitment records, staff training and induction records. We checked the policies and procedures and maintenance records of the service.

Updated 21 January 2017

This inspection took place on 10 & 15 November 2016 and was announced. The service was last inspected in November 2013 and was found to be meeting all the regulations we reviewed at that time.

NAS Community Services (Godalming) is registered to provide Personal Care services to people with learning disabilities and autism. The services they provide include personal care, housework and assistance with medicines. At the time of this inspection the service was supporting three people with learning disabilities, living in supported accommodation.

The service had 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 200 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.’

People told us they felt safe with the support they received from staff. There were arrangements in place to help safeguard people from the risk of abuse. The provider had appropriate policies and procedures in place to inform people who used the service and staff how to report potential or suspected abuse. Staff understood what constituted abuse and were aware of the steps to take to protect people.

People had risk assessments and risk management plans to reduce the likelihood of harm. The provider ensured there were safe recruitment procedures in place to help protect people from the risks of being cared for by staff assessed to be unfit or unsuitable.

Care workers told us and we saw from their records that they had received training in relevant areas of their work. This training enabled staff to support people effectively.

Care workers understood their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People told us and we saw from their records they were involved in making decisions about their care and support and their consent was sought and documented.

People were supported to eat and drink in a safe manner. Their support plans included an assessment of their nutrition and hydration needs. People told us they chose what they ate and staff supported them with meals.

People told us they were treated with dignity and respect. Care workers understood the need to protect people’s privacy and dignity. People told us staff knocked on their doors before they entered. their homes.

The service encouraged people to raise any concerns. We saw there had not been any recent complaints.

Care workers gave positive feedback about the management of the service. The registered manager was approachable and fully engaged with providing good quality care for people who used the service. They encouraged a positive and open culture by being supportive to staff and by making themselves approachable with a clear sense of direction for the service.

The service had systems in place to continually monitor the quality of the service and people were asked for their opinions and action plans were developed where required to address areas for improvements.