Archived: Cordant Care Chester

Updated 19 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.

This inspection took place over two days and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because we needed to be sure that someone would be at the office. The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector.

As part of the inspection we spoke with two of the people using the service, three relatives and two staff. We also spent time with the manager and audit compliance manager. We observed staff supporting people and reviewed documents; we looked at three peoples’ care records, medication records, three staff files, training information and policies and procedures in relation to the running of the service.

Before the inspection, we reviewed the information we held about the registered provider including previous notifications and information about any complaints and safeguarding concerns received. A notification is information about important events which the registered provider is required to send to us by law. We looked at information provided by the local authority commissioners and safeguarding teams. The information we received raised no concerns about the service.

Updated 19 May 2016

This was an announced inspection carried out on the 19 and 20 April 2016.

Cordant Care Chester is a small domiciliary care agency who is registered to provide personal care to people who live in their own homes. The service currently supports three people who have a range of complex health and support needs.

The service has a registered manager in post since February 2015. However, we noted that during our inspection the named manager was based at a different location with the registered provider and a new manager had been appointed. We were informed by the audit compliance manager during our visit that the appropriate applications to deregister the previous manager and to register the new manager were being currently being processed with CQC. 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 has not been previously inspected by Care Quality Commission.

People were protected from the risk of abuse or harm. All staff had completed safeguarding adults training and were able to describe different ways that people may experience abuse. Staff and managers had a good understanding of the procedures they were required to follow to ensure people were kept safe.

Risk assessments were completed for each person supported, and identified any risks to their health and safety. Assessments gave clear information to guide staff on how to minimise risks to people and themselves when providing care and support.

The registered provider had robust recruitment procedures in place, which helped ensure people’s safety. All staff were subject to a range of checks to ensure that they were suitable and safe to work with vulnerable people.

People were supported by staff who had received appropriate training. All staff received training to enable them to fulfil their roles which included essential subjects such as moving and handling, safeguarding people and medication training. Staff were also supported through supervisions and team meetings.

The manager and staff showed an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and described how people were involved in making decisions in their day to day support. Staff had not received training in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the manager informed us during our visit that this would be arranged and completed by all staff. The audit compliance manager informed us following the inspection that they would be reviewing the policy and procedure on the MCA in the near future to ensure that staff had access to the relevant guidance.

Staff were kind, caring and patient in their approach and it was evident through discussions that they took time to get to know people well. Staff understood the importance of maintaining people’s privacy, dignity and independence.

Support plans were person centred, detailed and written in a way that accurately described individual care, treatment and support needs. A thorough pre-admission assessment was completed to ensure the service could meet people's individual needs. People who used the service had a care plan that was personal to them with copies held at both the person's own home and in the office premises. The structure of the care plans was clear and information was easy to access. This meant that staff were clear about how people preferred to be supported. Support plans were evaluated, reviewed and updated as required.

Staff had a very good understanding of the different types of dementia and how the condition may impact on people’s behaviour. Staff were aware of any changes to people’s behaviour or health needs and took appropriate actions to address any concerns with the relevant health professionals.

The registered providers complaints procedure was accessible to people and their relevant others. Family members told us that their complaints were acted upon. Records we viewed confirmed this.

People spoke positively about the manager and described him as approachable and understanding. Robust systems were in place to check on the quality of the service and to ensure that improvements were made as required. Records we saw were regularly completed in line with the registered provider’s own timescales.