The Brothers of Charity Services - Greater Manchester Services

Updated 23 October 2019

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection team comprised of one inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in home.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on the 30 September 2019 and ended on the 1 October 2019. On the first day we visited the office location. On the second day we visited people living in their own homes as well as meet with staff.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since registering with the CQC. We sought feedback from the local authority involved with the service and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. No issues or concerns were raised with us.

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We also reviewed information we held about the service, including notifications the provider had sent us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. This information helps support our inspections.

During the inspection

We visited four people in their own homes and the relative of one person to seek their views about the care and support provided. We also contacted one person by telephone people. We spoke to six members of the staff team including the registered manager, co-ordinator, a team leader, office manager and support workers.

We reviewed a range of records, including medication administration records (MAR’s), care records staff personnel files, training records as well as information relating to the health and safety and management and oversight of the service.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 23 October 2019

About the service

The Brothers of Charity Services – Greater Manchester Services provides support to people living in their own homes who need additional support due to learning difficulties, physical disability, mental health needs, drug and alcohol addiction and hoarding. The service currently supports 65 people in the Bury, Rochdale and Stockport areas. Of those only 21 people receive the regulated activity of personal care.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The service continued to maintain safe and effective systems with regards to staff training and development and recruitment procedures, medication management, infection control, safeguarding and complaints.

Since the last inspection there had been a high turnover in staff. All vacancies had been recruited to and the team was now more stable. Staff told us changes in the management structure had been positive and the running of the service was now better organised and inclusive.

Regular audits and checks were completed to monitor and review all areas of the service. People, their relatives and staff were able to share their ideas and views about the service and support provided. Information and comments received were reviewed to explore any themes or patterns so improvements could be made.

People spoke positively about their experiences and enjoyed a good rapport with staff who knew them well. Staff spoke sensitively and passionately about their role and clearly understood what was expected of them.

People’s needs were assessed prior to joining the service. Information was used to develop their support plans and risk assessments. Information guided staff on the needs, wishes and preferences of people enabling people to remain as independent as possible.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Where people needed help to make decisions advocacy support was available.

Lots of information and opportunities were made available to encourage people to meet with others, develop relationships as well as take part in activities promoting community presence.

People were supported in a range of areas to meet their individual needs. This included encouraging people to continually develop their independent living skills, such as budgeting, shopping, cooking and housekeeping.

People had access to a range of health care support where needed and were offered advice and support on maintaining their health and well-being.

Suitable arrangements were in place for the recording and responding to any safeguarding issues or complaints and concerns.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published April 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.