Reablement North

Updated 31 August 2022

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced.

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be available to support the inspection.

The inspection activity started on 11 July 2022 by making telephone calls to people using the service and relatives. The inspection ended on 03 August 2022. We visited the registered location office on 03 August 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with eight people using the service and the relatives of eight people using the service. We received feedback from three staff and spoke with a specialist nurse that works with the service. We spoke with the registered manager and the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We looked at the care records for four people using the service, including risk assessments and medicines records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. And a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 31 August 2022

About the service

Reablement North is a short term reablement service with the aim of getting individuals back to independence. The service provides care and support for people who need immediate support to live independently in their own home; this may be because of a crisis, illness, following discharge from hospital or to identify if people require a permanent care provider to meet their long-term care needs.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of the inspection all 51 people using the service were receiving help with personal hygiene and eating.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People’s needs, and choices were fully assessed before they received a care package. The care plans (reablement plans) we looked at were very detailed and holistic, focusing on how people were supported to regain as much independence as possible.

Systems and processes were in place to safeguard people from potential harm. Staff completed training about safeguarding and knew how to report abuse. Risks to people were fully assessed and measures were put in place to reduce them.

Safe infection control procedures were followed. There were enough supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff.

There were enough staff to meet the needs of people using the service. The necessary recruitment checks were completed on all new staff starting with the service. Staff received an induction and ongoing training that enabled them to build on their skills and knowledge to provide safe, effective care.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Where the provider took on the responsibility, people were supported with their medicines and staff had been trained in the safe administration of medicines. People were supported to eat and drink enough to meet their dietary needs and staff provided support to assist people to regain independence with eating and drinking.

People were supported to live healthier lives and staff worked with a wide range of health and social care professionals to ensure good outcomes for people.

People and their relatives told us they were treated with kindness and compassion; their privacy was respected, and their independence was promoted. People knew how to make a complaint or raise a concern.

Quality assurance systems identified any areas that needed further development. Staff told us they enjoyed working for the service and they felt well supported.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 01 April 2021 and this is the first inspection.

The last rating for the service under the previous provider was Good published on 03 June 2019

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Reablement North on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection following registration.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.