Background to this inspection
Updated
12 April 2017
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.
The inspection took place on 8 March 2017 and was announced. One inspector carried out this inspection. The provider was given notice of this inspection because the location provides a domiciliary care service; we needed to be sure that the manager would be there.
Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also reviewed information we have about the service including notifications. A notification is a report about important events which the service is required to send us by law.
As part of this inspection we observed two people using the service at their home. We spoke with the registered manager, a team leader and three care staff. We reviewed the care records for four people including their health records. We also looked at the recruitment records for two staff, four staff files and staff training records. We looked at accident and incident records and quality assurance systems. We received feedback from two health and social care professionals.
Updated
12 April 2017
This was an announced inspection which took place over two days on the 8 March 2017. Gloucestershire Autism Services provides personal care for up to four people with a learning disability and autism. In addition they provide services to another five people in their homes who do not need help with personal care.
There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.
At our last inspection on 8 September 2015 this service was rated as requires improvement overall. We asked the provider to take action to make improvements to:
• information detailing how to keep people safe, such as risk assessments and medicines records,
• people’s care records to make sure they had been kept up to date with any changes
and these actions had been met.
People received individualised care which reflected their personal wishes, preferences and routines which were particularly important to them. Staff understood and promoted people’s individual lifestyle choices and how they wished to live their lives. They respected people’s choices and their right to refuse care or support. Staff supported people when anxious or upset and knew what could cause them anxiety and how to anticipate their emotions. People’s communication needs were understood and promoted using accessible information and sign language they understood. People had positive relationships with staff who treated them in a kindly and friendly manner.
People were supported to stay well. Their physical, mental and emotional needs were clearly highlighted in their care records. These were kept up to date and amended to reflect any changes in their needs. People had access to a range of health care professionals. Their dietary needs were considered and they made choices about what they drank and ate. People unable to make decisions about their care were supported in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and when needed decisions were made in their best interests by people who knew them well. People were kept safe from harm. Any risks were minimised and staff understood how to recognise suspected abuse and what action to take to keep people safe.
People were supported by staff who had been thoroughly recruited and did not work with them until all checks had been completed. Staff had access to a range of training to equip them with the skills and knowledge they needed to support people. Staff said they felt supported in their roles with access to the registered manager and out of hours support. There were sufficient staff to meet people’s needs and there was increasingly less reliance on the use of agency staff.
People’s views were sought as part of the quality assurance process. A range of quality audits assessed the standard of care provided. Accidents and incidents were monitored to make sure the appropriate action had been taken to prevent them re-occurring. The registered manager was aware of the challenges of developing the service and sustaining improvements.