Background to this inspection
Updated
2 March 2019
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team:
Our inspection was completed by one adult social care inspector, one bank inspector, 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. Our expert-by-experience had knowledge about personal care of adults within the community.
Service and service type:
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 visit because it is small and the manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be in.
What we did:
• Our inspection was informed by evidence we already held about the service. We also checked for feedback we received from members of the public, local authorities and clinical commissioning groups (CCGs).
• We checked records held by Companies House and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).
• We asked the service to complete a 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.
• We spoke with 16 out of 58 people who used the service and three relatives.
• We spoke with the provider's deputy director, registered manager, reablement manager, mental health case manager, occupational therapist, a physiotherapist and a social care workers.
• We reviewed 10 people's care records, 10 staff personnel files, audits and other records about the management of the service.
• We requested additional evidence to be sent to us after our inspection. This was received and the information was used as part of our inspection.
Updated
2 March 2019
About the service:
• The service's office is based in Islington. Care is provided in the surrounding areas.
• The service is provided by Islington Council. The aim of the Islington Reablement Service is to support adults who are recovering following hospital admissions or have experienced a recent decline in health, to reach the maximum level of independence possible.
• The reablement service lasts for a maximum of six weeks.
• The service covered a range of areas including prompting with medication, personal care, weekly shopping, housework and laundry.
People’s experience of using this service:
• The provider had made significant improvements to the service since our last inspection on 24 October and 1 November 2017.
• Effective systems and processes had been developed, and were being maintained to minimise risks to people.
• Risk assessments were all comprehensive and up to date, with detailed guidance for staff on how to reduce identified risks.
• People received personalised care and support services that met their needs. Care plans had been well developed. They gave clear guidance for staff on how people's needs should be met.
• Governance of the service had improved. A range of quality assurance systems had been used continuously to drive improvement. There were more effective arrangements in place for monitoring, investigating and learning from events.
• People’s needs had been assessed, and care delivered in line with standards and guidance.
• People were treated with dignity and respect. They were supported to maintain their independence.
• The service met the characteristics for a rating of "good" in all the key questions we inspected. Therefore, our overall rating for the service after this inspection was "good".
• More information is in our full report.
Rating at last inspection:
At our last inspection, the service was rated "requires improvement". Our last report was published on 16 January 2018.
Why we inspected:
• All services rated "requires improvement" are re-inspected within one year.
• This inspection was part of our scheduled plan of visiting services to check the safety and quality of care people received.
Follow up:
• We will continue to monitor the service to ensure that people receive safe, compassionate, high quality care. Further inspections will be planned for future dates.