This inspection took place on 3 March 2015 and was unannounced. At the last inspection of the service on 17 December 2013 we found the service was meeting the regulations we looked at.
Wimbledon Beaumont DCA provides home care to people living in assisted living apartments. The apartments are based within the grounds of Wimbledon Beaumont, a nursing home run by the same provider. People living in the assisted living apartments live independently but can choose to purchase a care package from the provider, to assist them with their personal care and support if this is needed. This could range from one visit in the morning to a number of calls during the day. People who use this service have a wide range of health care or medical needs. At the time of the inspection, nine people were using the service to provide them with home care.
The service had a registered manager in post. 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 a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated regulations about how the service is run.
People told us they felt safe in their apartments. Staff knew what action to take to ensure people were protected if they suspected they were at risk of abuse or harm. Where any risks to people’s health, safety and welfare had been identified, there were appropriate plans in place to ensure these were minimised to keep people safe from harm or injury in the home.
There were enough staff to meet the needs of people using the service. The provider ensured appropriate checks were made to ensure they were suitable to care for and support people using the service. They received appropriate training and support to meet people’s needs. The registered manager and provider monitored training to ensure staff skills and knowledge were kept up to date. Staff were well supported by the registered manager and other senior staff and were enabled to discuss any issues or concerns they had. They demonstrated a good understanding and awareness of people’s needs and how these should be met.
People received their medicines as prescribed and these were stored safely in their homes. Staff monitored people’s general health and wellbeing on regular basis. Where they had any issues or concerns about an individual’s health, staff ensured they received prompt care and attention from appropriate healthcare professionals such as the GP.
Senior staff were aware of their responsibilities in relation to obtaining people's consent to care and support and ensured people had capacity to make decisions about specific aspects of this. Care plans were in place which were personalised and reflective of people’s individual choices and preferences for how they received care. People were involved in making decisions about their care needs and support needs and able to retain control and independence in how this was provided.
People told us staff were kind and caring. We observed kind and caring interactions between people and staff during our inspection. Staff showed genuine interest and concern in how people were and how they [staff] could assist them.
People said staff ensured their privacy and dignity was respected and maintained. People were encouraged and supported to develop and maintain relationships. People said they were comfortable raising any issues or concerns they had directly with staff and knew how to make a complaint if needed. People were confident that any complaints they made would be dealt with appropriately.
People’s views were sought in developing and improving the service. The provider was committed to improving the quality of care people experienced. This was embedded in the vision and values for the service. There was a well-established quality assurance programme which checked care was being provided to an acceptable standard. Where improvements were needed, the registered manager took action to ensure these were made. They encouraged an open and inclusive environment within the home which enabled people, their relatives and staff to speak honestly about their experiences.