Archived: Knowsley Network

Updated 26 May 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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.

We inspected the service over two days on the 24 and 30 March 2016. In addition, we later spoke with staff on the telephone. Our inspection was announced and the inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector. We gave the registered provider short notice of this inspection as we needed to be sure that someone would be in the office.

On the first day of the inspection we visited the office. Whilst at the office we met with and held discussions with two people who use the service, a member of staff and the registered manager. In addition we spoke with the relative of a person who used the service.

We looked at the care records of three people, the recruitment records of one staff member and records relating to the management of the service. These records included policies and procedures and internal audit. On the second day of our inspection we visited six people at their homes and their four support staff on duty. Following our visits we spoke with a further three staff on the telephone.

Before our inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service including notifications of incidents that the registered provider had sent to us since the last inspection and all other information we had received. In addition, we spoke with a local authority social worker who had regular contact with the service who gave us their views on the management and effectiveness of the service.

Updated 26 May 2016

This was an announced inspection carried out on the 24 and 30 March 2016.

Knowsley Network supports adults with a learning disability to live as independently as possible in their own homes. The level of support provided varies in line with the needs of the person. This ranges from sessional support of a few hours, up to 24 hour support including night support. People are supported with all aspects of daily living including; personal care, social activities, homemaking and support with finances. The service supported 33 people at the time of this inspection.

The service has a registered manager. 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 last inspection of Knowsley Network took place in October 2013 and we found that the service was meeting all of the regulations assessed.

People who used the service felt safe and protected from harm. Staff knew how to respond to any concerns they had about people’s safety. Safeguarding information, policies and procedures were readily available which staff understood. Staff had received training in safeguarding people.

Risks people faced were assessed, identified and planned for. This included risks associated with daily living and activities people took part in around the community.

People were supported by staff that were appropriately trained and supported. Staff felt they received appropriate training for their role.

The registered provider had a detailed recruitment and selection procedure which helped ensure that only people of suitable character to work with vulnerable adults were employed at the service.

People felt well cared for and that their privacy and dignity were respected by the staff that supported them.

People were encouraged and supported to participate in daily living routines and get out and about within their local community.

Each person had an individual person centred care plan that detailed their lifestyle choices, needs and wishes. These documents gave information to staff as to how a person wanted to be cared for.

Several systems were in place to help the registered manager and the registered provider assess the quality of the service people received. These systems included carrying out regular checks on people’s care planning documents and asking people their views on how they were cared for.

Policies and procedures were in place to guide people who use the service and the staff team in relation to safe and current best practice.

People who used the service and staff felt that the registered manager was easy to approach.