Archived: Flexicare (Oxford and Abingdon)

Updated 29 January 2016

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 the 16 December 2015. It was an announced inspection. We told the provider two days before our visit that we would be coming. We did this because the manager is sometimes out of the office supporting staff or visiting children and their relatives who use the service. We needed to be sure that they would be in. This inspection was carried out by an inspector and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

We spoke with eight relatives, three care coordinators and the registered manager. We looked at six children’s care records, medicine and administration records. We also looked at a range of records relating to the management of the service. The methods we used to gather information included pathway tracking, which is capturing the experiences of a sample of people by following a person’s route through the service.

Before the visit we looked at previous inspection reports and notifications we had received. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about in law. We also reviewed information we held about the service.

In addition, we asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). The provider had completed and submitted their 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.

Updated 29 January 2016

We undertook an announced inspection of Flexicare (Oxford and Abingdon) on 16 December 2015. We told the provider two days before our visit that we would be coming.

Flexicare is a small local Oxfordshire charity which provides a sitting service in the homes of families who have a child/children with severe physical and/or learning disabilities which may include problems with mobility, feeding, breathing, communication and seizures. Three part time care coordinators and a team of volunteers support up to 41 families.

There was a registered manager in post. 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.

Children’s relatives told us they benefitted from very caring relationships with the staff who knew how to support them. Children were assessed prior to staff supporting them. Children received care from staff who were knowledgeable about their needs and how best to support them.

Staff understood the needs of children and provided care with kindness and compassion. Relatives spoke positively about the service and the care their children received. Care plans highlighted children’s needs and interests.

Children were safe. Staff understood how to recognise and report concerns and the service worked with the local authority if there were any concerns. Most medicines were administered by relatives. However, where staff administered medicine children received their medicines safely as prescribed. Staff assessed risks associated with children’s care and took action to reduce risks.

There were sufficient staff to meet children’s needs. Visits were not arranged unless the service had capacity to fulfil the commitment. The service had robust recruitment procedures in place which ensured staff were suitable for their role. Background checks were conducted to ensure staff were of good character. Staff were supported through supervision, appraisal and training to enable them to provide a high degree of care.

Relatives told us they were confident they would be listened to and action would be taken if they had any concerns. Where concerns were raised the service took action to rectify the issue. The service had systems to assess the quality of the service provided. Systems were in place that ensured children were protected against the risks of unsafe or inappropriate care.

Relatives were involved in creating children’s support plans. Visit times were confirmed before the visit took place and relatives knew who would visit to provide a service. No missed visits were reported or recorded. Relative’s told us it was a reliable service.

All staff spoke positively about the support they received from the registered manager. Staff told us they were approachable and there was a good level of communication within the service. Regular meetings were held where staff could discuss relating to the service provided.

The registered manager led by example. Their vision for a family focussed, flexible service was echoed by staff.