Archived: Alzheimer's Society - Sheffield

Updated 8 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 checked whether the registered provider was 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 13 and 14 July 2015 and short notice was given. We told the registered manager two days before our visit that we would be coming. We did this because the registered manager is sometimes out of the office supporting staff or visiting people who use the service. We needed to be sure that the registered manager would be available. This inspection was undertaken by an adult social care inspector.

Before our inspection, we reviewed the information we held about the service. This included correspondence we had received about the service and notifications submitted by the service. We asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (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. The PIR was returned as requested.

We contacted Sheffield local authority, five healthcare professionals and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We received detailed feedback from commissioners and two healthcare professionals. This information was reviewed and used to assist with our inspection.

As part of this inspection we spoke in person or over the telephone to people supported by Alzheimer’s Society Sheffield, to obtain their views of the support provided. We visited two people in their own homes and spoke with them or their representatives. We also telephoned nine people and were able to speak with five people’s relatives. In addition, we spoke with one person who visited the services office during this inspection to meet with us.

We visited the office and spoke with the registered manager, deputy manager, a dementia support worker involved in group work and a support worker. We spoke over the telephone to two further support workers.

We spent time looking at records, which included four people’s care records, four staff records and other records relating to the management of the service, such as training records and quality assurance audits and reports.

Updated 8 January 2016

Alzheimer’s Society Sheffield supports people living in their own homes who have a diagnosis of dementia before their 65th birthday. Support is based on individual need and access to activities in the local community and in people’s own homes is provided to facilitate breaks for carers. The agency office is based in the centre of Sheffield, close to all amenities and transport links. The service is available 363 days each year from 7am to 11pm. At the time of this inspection Alzheimer’s Society Sheffield was supporting 12 people whose support included the provision of the regulated activity ‘personal care’.

There was a registered manager at the service who was registered with CQC. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Our last inspection at Alzheimer’s Society Sheffield took place on 25 November 2013. The service was found to be meeting the requirements of the regulations we inspected at that time.

This inspection took place on 13 and 14 July 2015 and short notice was given. We told the registered manager two days before our visit that we would be coming. We did this because the registered manager is sometimes out of the office supporting staff or visiting people who use the service. We needed to be sure that the registered manager would be available.

Without exception, people supported, their representatives and professionals spoken with made outstanding comments about Alzheimer’s Society Sheffield.

People supported by the service told us staff were “Wonderful” and became animated when speaking of their support worker.

Relatives spoken with were very positive about the support provided by Alzheimer’s Society Sheffield. Comments included, “They are just brilliant. I cannot speak highly enough of them. They have changed our lives,” “Kind, caring people that know us well and give us the help we need, massive thanks to them” and “I am delighted with them. We couldn’t manage without them.”

One relative told us they would not still be together as a family without the support fromAlzheimer’s Society Sheffield. They said, “We are still all together because of their support.”

Healthcare professionals spoken with also made very positive comments. One healthcare professional told us, “It has been my experience that the service provides an excellent facility and I have no reservations in signposting clients or using their specialist support.”

Whilst the service did not support anyone with their medicines, we found systems were in place to make sure people would receive their medicines safely should this support be needed.

Staff recruitment procedures were thorough and ensured people’s safety was promoted.

Staff were provided with relevant induction and training to make sure they had the right skills and knowledge for their role. Staff understood their role and what was expected of them. They were happy in their work, motivated and proud to work at the service. Staff were confident in the way the service was managed. The service followed the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) Code of practice and the principles of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). This helped to protect the rights of people who may not be able to make important decisions themselves.

The support provided was person centred and flexible to suit the needs of the person supported. Support staff were always introduced and matched with the person to facilitate good relationships.

Relatives said they could speak with staff if they had any worries or concerns and they would be listened to.

There were effective systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service provided. Regular checks and audits were undertaken to make sure full and safe procedures were adhered to. People using the service and their relatives had been asked their opinion via surveys, the results of these had been audited to identify any areas for improvement.