Archived: Grapevine Care Domiciliary Care

Updated 14 December 2015

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.

This inspection took place on 30 September and I October 2015 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service for people who are often out during the day; we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

The last inspection of Grapevine Care Domiciliary Care was completed in October 2013. At that time there were no breaches in regulations. Since then the location has new premises in Gloucester. This inspection was undertaken by one inspector as the service is a small domiciliary care service.

Prior to the inspection we looked at the information we had about the service. This information included the statutory notifications that the provider had sent to CQC. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

We reviewed the Provider Information Record (PIR) during and after the inspection. The provider had received an acknowledgement that the PIR had been submitted however this had not appeared in our pre-inspection information. The PIR is information given to us by the provider. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, tells us what the service does well and the improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection we spoke with four people who used the service in a shared house. We spent time with the acting registered manager at the agency office and spoke to a team leader and three support staff at the shared house.

We looked at four people’s care records, two staff recruitment and training records. We looked at some policies and procedures including, safeguarding, whistleblowing, complaints and the safe management of medicines.

After the inspection we contacted a social care professional who had close contact with a person they supported.

Updated 14 December 2015

This announced inspection took place on 30 September and 1 October 2015.

Grapevine Care Domiciliary Care provides personal care and support to people with a mild to moderate learning disability, autism or sensory impairment in their own home. The service provides support to 12 people in their own home or shared accommodation. People are supported with individual personal care and activities of their choice in their home and the community.

There is a registered manager who is on long term leave. 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 service is temporarily managed by a registered manager from another Grapevine service who is supported by the provider’s operations manager.

Staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding people and what action to take to protect people from abuse. Staff had completed safeguarding adults training. There were thorough recruitment procedures. Checks to help ensure suitable staff were employed to care and support people had been completed. Individual risks were identified and minimised to maintain people’s freedom and independence. The level of support people needed with their medicines was identified in their care plan. People chose how staff supported them to take their medicines and the management of medicines was safe and clear.

People were supported to maintain good health and be involved in decisions about their health.They visited healthcare professionals who monitored their health. Hospital assessment records provided information about people should they need to be admitted in an emergency.

Staff had regular training updates to ensure they had sufficient knowledge to carry out their roles effectively. Staff had completed qualifications in health and social care and were regularly supervised to maintain and improve their practice. People were protected by staff having regard to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). The MCA provides the legal framework to assess people’s capacity to make certain decisions and record a best interest decision with professional and their supporter’s. Staff had completed training on the MCA.

People planned and shopped for their meals and were supported by staff to prepare them. Professional support was provided with regard to nutrition and wellbeing.

Staff treated people with dignity and respect in a cheerful and positive atmosphere. They were supported in employment and to find college courses. Staff treated people as equals and helped them to keep in touch with family and friends. People received the care and support they wanted as staff knew their personalised care plans and helped them achieve their goals. People were encouraged to tell staff about concerns and any changes they wanted. Their views were acknowledged by staff and acted upon.

Quality assurance procedures were used to monitor and improve the service for people and included them in developing their care and support. Feedback from people and their relatives or supporters was used to improve the service. Regular quality checks helped to ensure the service was safe. Accidents and incidents were well recorded and reviewed to prevent reoccurrence.