Archived: Broadway North Resource Centre

During this inspection we spoke with five people who had used the service and four staff. People who used the service were positive about the support they received. One person said: "I had a breakdown, this place has changed my life completely, people are kind, nice people. If you have any problems or concerns they can arrange for you to see doctors, psychiatrists and family whenever you want. I feel safe here it gives me a break from my family". Another person said: "I feel it has given me my life back, staff are very caring and supportive and understand my needs".

Staff told us that the service had recently been identified for closure and as a result of this staff morale was low. We were told that the service currently had a high level of staff absence. The high rate of staff absence had resulted in a need to employ agency staff who did not have the skills needed to provide people who used the service with the support they needed including the administration of their medicines. We were also told that on two recent occasions there were only agency staff on duty without any Broadway North staff on duty. The staffing arrangements at the time of our inspection were not safe and were not responsive to the needs of people who used the service.

We saw that the service had a complaints procedure which was readily available for people who used the service or their representatives to raise any concerns they might have had.

Broadway North Resource Centre provided people with sufficient and appropriate information about the support and treatment they would receive to enable them to make informed decisions about their stay there and treatment they would receive. One person said, "They discussed the treatment plan with me and the support that was available for me". Another person said, "They take the pressures off me, if I had not come to Broadway North, I would have been back in hospital".

We found that people had an agreed treatment plan and when changes were needed to their treatment this was discussed and agreed with them. One person told us, "They have been very supportive". Another person told us, "They discuss when a change in treatment is needed". Another person said, "They work with me and help me to cope".

There were appropriate arrangements in place to manage and help people manage their own medicines. Safeguards were in place to try to eliminate the risk of medication errors from occurring.

The service had sufficient and suitably skilled staff. One person said "Staff are very good and supportive", another said "They have been very good and supportive".

Systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service provided and people were asked for their views about the service provided.