15 October 2015
During a routine inspection
This announced inspection took place on the 15 October 2015. This was the first inspection of the service since Axiom Care Limited had been registered as the provider IN May 2014
Willowbank is registered to provide personal care to people who live in Willowbank extra care scheme. At the time of our inspection 20 people were receiving a personal care service.
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 scheme. 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 scheme is run.
The providers’ policy on the safe administration and management of medicines had not been followed by staff. This meant that people were at risk of not receiving their prescribed medicines. Audits that had identified issues in medicine management had not been reviewed to check that the required action had been taken.
People’s needs were assessed and the information in the care plans was detailed. This meant staff could support people and meet their needs in line with their preferences.
Risks to people’s safety had not always been reassessed. Some risk assessments were inaccurate but staff were aware of the actions they should take to support people safely.
The risk of harm for people was reduced because staff knew how to recognise and report abuse.
The CQC is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and to report on what we find. We found that people who used the service had their capacity to make day-to-day decisions formally assessed.
The recruitment process ensured that only suitable staff were employed to provide care to people using the service. There were sufficient staff to meet the needs of people receiving care and support in a timely way.
People’s health and welfare was monitored by staff to ensure health professional input was given when necessary.
People’s privacy and dignity was respected by all staff. People were aware that there was a complaints procedure in place.
Staff felt supported by the managers because there were opportunities for open discussion. Staff felt they were able to raise any concerns through staff meetings and the open culture of the service.
We found a breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of the report.