16 December 2014
During a routine inspection
This inspection took place on 16 December 2014 and was announced. We informed the provider two days in advance of our visit that we would be inspecting. This was to ensure there was somebody at the location to facilitate our inspection. At our last inspection of this service in October 2013 we found that they had met all the regulations we checked at that time.
The service is a domiciliary care service that provides support with personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of our inspection the service was providing care to six adults.
There was not a registered manager in post on the day of our inspection. The last registered manager for the service notified the Care Quality Commission (CQC) they left in November 2014. The current manager was in the process of applying for registration as the manager for the service. 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.
Systems were in place to help ensure people were safe. Staff had undertaken training about safeguarding adults and had a good understanding of their responsibilities with regard to this. Risk assessments were in place which provided information about how to support people in a safe manner. Staff understood their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. We found there were enough staff working to support people in a safe way in line with their assessed level of need. The service had effective arrangements for the management of medicines to protect people against the risks associated with medicines
Staff received regular training and were knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities. They had the skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and support needs.
Staff knew the people they were supporting and provided a personalised service. Care plans were in place detailing how people wished to be supported and people and their relatives were involved in making decisions about their care.
The manager was open and supportive. Staff and relatives felt able to speak with the manager and provided feedback on the service. The manager undertook spot checks to review the quality of the service provided.