14 October 2015
During a routine inspection
The announced inspection took place on 14 October 2015. The last inspection took place on 10 December 2013 and the service was found to be meeting all the regulations inspected at that time.
Creative Support is contracted by Bolton Council to provide personal care to people who require these services in six extra care housing schemes situated in the Bolton area. Rushey Fold Court is a purpose built extra care housing accommodation with 30 self-contained flats, maintained by Anchor Trust. Rushey Fold Court is based just off a major road into Bolton. Public transport routes to Bolton town centre are close by. The property has gardens and a car park for the use of people living there and their relatives and visitors.
There was a registered manager at the service. 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 told us they felt safe within the service and we saw that appropriate risk assessments were in place within the care plans. Accidents and incidents were recorded correctly and followed up appropriately with referrals to other agencies if required.
Health and safety measures were in place to help minimise risks and regular checks were carried out to ensure the premises and equipment were maintained to a good standard. There was a business continuity plan in place in case of any emergency situation.
The service had a robust recruitment procedure to help ensure people employed were suitable to work with vulnerable adults. Staffing levels were sufficient to meet the needs of the people who used the service.
There were appropriate safeguarding and whistle blowing policies in place. Staff received training in safeguarding and refresher training was delivered regularly. Staff we spoke with were able to demonstrate an understanding of safeguarding issues.
Medicines policies were in place and staff were trained to an appropriate standard to administer medicines. Medicines audits were undertaken regularly to help ensure medicines continued to be handled safely.
We looked at five care plans which included a range of health and personal information. We saw that the service worked with other agencies and made appropriate referrals to other services when required. Nutrition and hydration was monitored where issues had been identified.
The service had a robust induction programme, which included training, shadowing, familiarisation with policies and direct observation of practice. Training was on-going for staff throughout their careers at the service. We saw evidence that staff supervisions and appraisals were carried out on a regular basis.
The service worked within the legal requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) (MCA). Consent was sought for all interventions and best interests decisions made where appropriate.
People told us staff were kind and considerate and we observed good interactions between staff and people who used the service. The service endeavoured to ensure consistency of staff so that good relationships could be sustained.
Appropriate information was given to people who used the service and they were encouraged to be involved with their care delivery and reviews of their support requirements.
Staff were able to demonstrate how they respected people’s privacy and dignity. People were encouraged to be as independent as possible, building on their strengths and abilities.
Care plans included information about people’s likes, dislikes, interests and personal preferences. People were given choices in areas such as care delivery, times of visits, activities undertaken and gender of carer.
Regular satisfaction surveys were undertaken to ascertain people’s opinions of their care delivery. We saw the results of the most recent survey which demonstrated that people were positive about their experience of the service delivery.
There was an appropriate complaints and compliments policy in place and people were aware of how to use this. Complaints were followed up appropriately and we saw a number of recent compliments received by the service.
Staff we spoke with told us the management were approachable and they felt well supported. People who used the service knew the management team and said they were visible within the service.
A number of checks and audits were undertaken regularly to help ensure the quality of the service provision and to inform future improvements to care delivery.
Staff meetings were held regularly and these provided a forum for raising issues and concerns and discussing changes and updates.
The service had links with the local community and worked well in partnership with other agencies.