Background to this inspection
Updated
21 May 2016
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.
We inspected Stockton Continuing Care on 21 March 2016. This was an announced inspection. We gave the registered provider short notice (48 hours) that we would be visiting.
The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspection manager.
Before the inspection we reviewed all the information we held about the service for example notification of incidents. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the registered provider is required to send us by law. This information was reviewed and used to assist us with our inspection. The registered provider completed a provider information return (PIR) and we saw this document when we visited the service. 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.
At the time of our inspection visit there were 22 people who used the service and 12 staff employed.
During the inspection we spoke with five people who used the service. We also spoke with the registered manager and three care staff. We looked at two people’s care records, including care planning documentation and medicine records. We also looked at staff files, including staff recruitment and training records, records relating to the management of the service and a variety of policies and procedures developed and implemented by the registered provider.
Updated
21 May 2016
We inspected Stockton Continuing Care, on 21st March 2016. This was an announced inspection. We informed the registered provider at short notice (48 hours before) that we would be visiting. We did this because the service delivers domiciliary care and we wanted the registered manager to be present at the service on the day of the inspection. This meant they could provide us with the information that we needed.
The service is registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. The service can provide care and support to adults, children and young people, people with physical and mental health problems and people with learning disabilities. The service offers a continuing care and a re-ablement service to people who have had deterioration in their health for whatever reason and require assistance and support.
The service were providing care packages to three people for continuing homecare and 19 people for re-ablement which is a six week package of support to people who have had a period of illness/injury that has resulted in them requiring support at home until they regain their independence. At the end of the six week period if people require further support this can be arranged following a meeting
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.
Assessments were undertaken to identify people’s care and support needs. Care records reviewed contained information about the person's likes, dislikes and personal choices. Care plan records were detailed and person centred which meant they were individual to the needs of the person.
There were enough staff employed to provide support and ensure that people’s needs were met. Most staff had worked at the service for a number of years.
There were systems and processes in place to protect people from the risk of harm. Staff were aware of the different types of abuse and what they would do if they witnessed any abuse.
Prior to the package of care commencing, environmental risk assessments of the person’s home were carried out. Safety checks looked at among other things equipment to be used and general environment. This meant that the registered provider took steps which ensured the premises was safe for people and staff.
There were risk assessments in place for people who used the service. The risk assessments and care plans had been reviewed and updated on a regular basis. Risk assessments covered areas such as bathing, smoking, going out in the community and food preparation. This meant that staff had the documentation and guidance they needed to help people to remain safe.
Systems were in place for the management of medicines so that people received their medicines safely. Care Records we reviewed contained detail of people’s medicines, how they should be administered and what time they should be taken.
Staff had received regular and recent supervision and also spot checks to make sure they were doing their job correctly. Supervision is a process, usually a meeting, by which an organisation provide guidance and support to staff.
Staff were up to date with most training. Staff told us they had received training which had provided them with the knowledge and skills to provide care and support to the people they visited. Robust recruitment and selection procedures were in place and we saw that appropriate checks had been undertaken before staff began work. The checks included two references from previous employers and DBS checks which ensured staff employed were safe to work with vulnerable people.
The registered manager and staff we spoke with had an understanding of the principles and responsibilities in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005. The registered manager told us that staff had been trained in the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005. MCA is legislation to protect and empower people who may not be able to make their own decisions, particularly about their health care, welfare or finances.
People we spoke with told us that staff were kind and caring and treated people with dignity and respect. Staff arrived at the time agreed and stayed for the time allocated.
Staff at the service worked with other healthcare professionals to support the people they were caring for.
The registered provider had a system in place for responding to people’s concerns and complaints. People told us they knew how to complain and felt confident that staff would respond and take action to support them.
There were systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided. The registered manager sought the views of people who used the service. Staff told us that the service had an open and supportive culture.