Archived: Broomfields Sheltered Housing

This service provides care [and support] to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. The accommodation is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care [and support] service. People using the service lived in either a flat or bungalow located on one site.

Not everyone using Broomfields extra care service receives a regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided. Six people were in receipt of personal care services at the time of this inspection.

In addition to Broomfields extra care, the service also operates a supported living service for 24 people living in rented accommodation in and around the Warrington area, People’s accommodation included houses and bungalows where up to three people lived together.

A registered manager was in post. 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 the service was carried out in February 2016 and at that time the service was rated as good overall. Following this inspection, the rating remains good.

People were supported to have choice in their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. We saw that policies and guidance were available to staff in relation to the Mental Capacity Act.

People told us that the staff were caring and supportive and felt listened to. Staff received regular support and training to keep up to date with best practice.

People were encouraged and supported to pursue their hobbies and interests with the staff team.

People felt safe using the service. Policies and procedures were in place in relation to safeguarding people from abuse. People’s care planning considered risks to people and plans were in place to minimise these risks.

Safe recruitment practices helped ensure that only people suitable to work with vulnerable people were employed by the service.

People had access to and were aware of the services complaints procedure. A system was in place to manage and monitor complaints and compliments about the service.

People told us that staff asked them if they were ok and happy with the service. In addition, regular reviews and meetings took place to help ensure that people received the care and support they required.

Information was made accessible to people by being produced in different formats which included the use of photographs, different sized print and pictures.

People were supported with their eating and drinking needs when needed. Specific guidance was available to staff in relation to people’s dietary needs.

People told us their privacy and dignity was protected and promoted.

Accidents and incidents were clearly recorded and reviewed by the registered manager to evidence any trends or patterns that may occur.

Systems and audits were in place to regularly check that people were receiving the care and support they required.

Following a period of transition. The service were in the process of developing and producing new policies and procedures to offer advice and guidance in relation to safe, effective care and support.

The service maintained links with other services within the area to promote change and good practice.

We carried out an announced inspection on 25 February 2016. The service provided care and support to adults in their own homes. People supported by the service were living with a variety of needs including chronic health conditions, physical disabilities and dementia. At the time of the inspection, four people were supported by the service.

The service had 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 registered manager was on annual leave on the day of our visit.

We found that there were risk assessments in place that gave guidance to staff on how risks to people could be minimised. There were systems in place to safeguard people from the risk of possible harm.

The provider had effective recruitment processes in place and there were sufficient staff to support people safely.

Staff understood their roles and responsibilities to seek people’s consent prior to care being provided.

Staff received regular formal supervision and support, and had been trained to meet people’s individual needs.

People were supported by caring and respectful staff and were supported to access other health and social care services when required such as GP’s and district nursing services.

People’s needs had been assessed, and life plans took account of people’s individual needs, preferences, and choices.

The provider had a formal process for handling complaints and concerns. They encouraged feedback from people and acted on the comments received to improve the quality of the service.

There were effective quality monitoring processes in place.