5 Giles Walk

Updated 9 March 2018

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.

This inspection took place on 2 and 7 February 2017 and was announced.

The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

The inspection team consisted of one inspector on day one and two inspectors on day two when we contacted people and relatives who received services from 5 Giles Walk.

We reviewed information we held about the service. We looked at our own system to see if we had received any concerns or compliments about the provider. We analysed information on statutory notifications we had received from the provider. A statutory notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

We asked the local authority and Healthwatch for any information they had which would aid our inspection.

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 used this information to assist in our planning of the inspection.

We spoke with two people who used the service, four relatives, three staff members and the registered manager. We looked at the care and support plans for two people, records of quality checks, accident and incidents and medicine administration. In addition, we confirmed the safe recruitment of two staff members.

Updated 9 March 2018

This inspection took place on 2 and 7 February 2018 and was announced.

5 Giles Walk provides personal care for people in their own homes. At this inspection they were providing care and support for 12 people.

A registered manager was in post and present at this inspection. 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.

People were safe as staff had been trained and understood how to support people in a way that protected them from danger, harm and abuse. Staff knew how to support people in a way that minimised the risks of harm associated with their care.

People were supported by enough staff to safely assist them and who arrived to provide support at the agreed times. When needed, people received help with their medicines from staff who were trained to safely support them.

The provider followed infection prevention and control guidance. The provider ensured that the equipment people used, was maintained and kept in safe working order.

The provider completed checks on staff before they started work to ensure they were safe to work with people. The provider had systems in place to address any unsafe staff practice.

People received care from staff that had the skills and knowledge to meet their needs. New staff members received an induction to their role and were equipped with the skills they needed to work with people. Staff attended training that was relevant to those they supported and any additional training needed to meet people’s requirements was provided.

People had their rights protected by staff members who were aware of current guidance informing their practice. People were given information in a way they could understand.

Staff received support and guidance from a management team who they found approachable. People and staff felt able to express their views and felt their opinions mattered.

People had positive relationships with the staff members who supported them. People’s likes and dislikes were known by staff who assisted them in a way which was personal to them. People were involved in decisions about their care and had information they needed in a way they understood.

People had their privacy and dignity respected and information personal to them was treated confidentially. People had access to healthcare when needed and staff responded to any changes in needs promptly and consistently. People were supported to eat and drink sufficient amounts to maintain good health.

The provider regularly met people they supported to gain informal feedback in the service they provided. People felt confident they were listened to and their views were valued.