Archived: Dashwood

Updated 21 September 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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 28 August 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection team consisted of two adult social care inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager, area manager and three support workers. We also spoke with six people who used the service and one relative. We also looked at records related to the regulated activity of personal care including three care plans, two staff files including information about recruitment.

We contacted 10 social and health care professionals and commissioners and heard back from three.

Updated 21 September 2018

Dashwood provides care and support to nine people living in ‘supported living’ settings or receiving outreach support in their own homes. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. Not everyone supported by Dashwood receives 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. At the time of the inspection nine people were receiving care and support under the registered regulated activity of personal care.

We carried out an unannounced inspection at Dashwood on 28 August 2018. The service had a registered manager in place. 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.

People were safe as staff knew the correct procedures to follow if they considered someone was at risk of harm or abuse. Staff had received appropriate safeguarding training and there were policies and procedures in place to follow in case of an allegation of abuse. The provider had safe recruitment procedures in place and conducted background checks to ensure staff were suitable for their roles. Staffing numbers and shifts were managed to suit people's needs so that people received their care when they needed and wanted it.

Risks to people were identified and plans put in place to minimise these risks. Guidance was in place for staff so that they could mitigate risk, and support people to take sensible risks as safely as possible. People received their prescribed medicines and were encouraged to have as much independence to manage medicines themselves safely.

People were fully involved in the development of their care planning along with health and social care professionals. Staff had access to information, support and training they needed to provide people with satisfactory care. The provider’s training was designed to meet the needs of people using the service.

People were supported to maintain their health and were referred for specialist advice as required. Staff worked with local social and health care professionals and referrals for specialist advice were submitted in a timely manner. People's nutritional needs were met and people were supported to maintain a balanced diet.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

There was clear guidance for staff on how to meet people’s individual needs and support them to achieve their goals. Staff treated people with kindness, respect and promoted people's right to privacy.

People were provided with information about how to make a complaint and these were managed in accordance with the provider's complaints policy. The registered provider had informed the CQC of all notifiable incidents.

The registered manager was aware of the values and vision of the organisation and to ensure these were implemented into the service to ensure people achieved positive outcomes. The provider ensured guidance and best practice was promoted by engaging in national forums. There were quality assurance systems in place which monitored the service, identified potential areas for improvement and actions were taken to improve these.