29 August 2017
During a routine inspection
This inspection was carried out on the 29 August 2017 and was an announced inspection. This was the first inspection of this service since its registration at this location in November 2016.
The service had a registered manager in post. However, they were not present during this inspection and had applied to deregister from this role with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A registered manager from a nearby location was involved in the day-to-day running of the Peterborough location. They were also in the process of applying to the CQC to add the Peterborough location onto their current registration. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.
The CQC is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and report on what we find. At the time of this inspection no one using the service lacked mental capacity to make their own decisions. Staff were able to demonstrate a basic understanding of the MCA. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.
Staff showed us their understanding of how to report any suspicions of poor care or incidents of suspected harm. Staff helped people in a way that supported their safety and people were looked after by staff in a caring manner.
Staff assisted and encouraged people to live as independent a life as possible and make their own choices. People’s dignity was promoted by staff and staff treated people with respect.
People were looked after by enough, suitably qualified staff to support them with their individual care and support needs. Staff enjoyed their work and understood their roles and responsibilities in meeting people’s requirements. They were trained to provide effective and safe care.
Staff were supported to maintain their knowledge and skills by way of supervision, appraisals and spot checks to review their competency. New staff members were only employed by the service, to look after people once all pre-employment checks had been completed and were found to be acceptable.
People’s care arrangements took account of people’s wishes, including any likes and dislikes and how they wanted to be assisted. People’s care plans and risk assessments recorded their individual assessed needs and any support they required from staff. Risks to people were identified, and plans were put into place by staff to monitor and minimise these risks, as far as possible, without restricting people’s independence and choice.
People were supported to take their medicines as prescribed and medicines were safely managed by staff who were trained, and whose competency had been assessed.
Where this help was required, people were supported to eat and drink sufficient amounts of food and fluids. People’s choice about what they wished to eat and drink was encouraged and respected by staff. Staff monitored people’s health and well-being needs. They acted upon any issues identified and advice given by external health care professionals.
There was a process in place to manage any concerns and complaints received. Arrangements were in place to ensure the quality of the service provided for people was regularly monitored.
People and staff were encouraged to share their views and feedback about the quality of the care and support provided. Actions were taken as a result to move forward any improvements required.