We carried out a review of the data available to us about The Phoenix Centre on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about The Phoenix Centre, you can give feedback on this service.
At the last inspection carried out on 24 and 26 May 2016 the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good. There was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.
There were registered managers in place for each service. 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.
People supported by all the services told us they were safe, well cared for and liked the staff who supported them. Comments received included, “I am enjoying my stay at the Phoenix Centre and I feel completely safe. The staff have been great with me.” And, “I feel completely safe with the staff who support me. They have never let me down.”
Procedures were in place to record safeguarding concerns, accidents and incidents and take necessary action as required. Staff had received safeguarding training and understood their responsibilities to report unsafe care or abusive practices.
Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of harm to people during the delivery of their care. These had been kept under review and were relevant to the care provided.
Staff had been recruited safely, appropriately trained and supported. They had skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and social needs.
Staff responsible for assisting people with their medicines had received training to ensure they had the competency and skills required.
People’s care and support had been planned with them and was person centred. They told us they had been consulted and listened to about how their care would be delivered.
Care plans were organised and had identified care and support people required. We found they were informative about care people had received.
We saw there was an emphasis on promoting dignity, respect and independence for people supported by all services. They told us they were treated as individuals and received person centred care.
The registered managers understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). This meant they were working within the law to support people who may lack capacity to make their own decisions.
We looked around the building of the Phoenix Centre and found it had been maintained, was clean and hygienic and a safe place for people to stay. We found equipment had been serviced and maintained as required. The design of the building and facilities provided were appropriate for the care and support provided.
The services had safe infection control procedures in place and staff had received infection control training.
Meal times at the Phoenix Centre, supported living and shared lives houses were relaxed and organised around people’s individual daily routines. People told us they enjoyed the quality and choice of meals provided for them.
People were supported to have access to healthcare professionals and their healthcare needs had been met.
People supported by all services told us staff were caring towards them. Staff we spoke with understood the importance of high standards of care to give people meaningful lives.
The services had information about support from an external advocate should this be required by people they supported.
The services had a complaints procedure which was made available to people and their family when they commenced using the service. The people we spoke with told us they were happy with their service and had no complaints.
The registered mangers used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of the service. These included regular audits and satisfaction surveys to seek their views about the service provided.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
The last inspection took place on the 28 August 2013. They were meeting all the requirements of the regulations that were inspected at that time.
The Phoenix Centre is run by Blackpool Borough Council. The location provides a domiciliary service for people who live in the local community. This includes supporting people with personal care needs and assisting people to be as independent as they can be. Within the building there is a residential mental health service for people with a primary diagnosis of enduring mental illness who are experiencing a mental health crisis. The service offers short stays from one night to up to two weeks to enable a period of recovery. In addition the Phoenix centre provides a supported living scheme and extra supported living scheme in houses within the community. These are houses in the Blackpool area that are staffed 24 hours a day and provide accommodation. The aim of the services is to provide rehabilitation for people and move on to accommodation of their choice. The services each had a registered manager. At the time of the inspection there were 21 people supported by the supported living services. The domiciliary service was providing support for 99 people. In addition there were three people currently staying at the Phoenix Service mental health unit within the Phoenix Centre.
There were registered managers in place for the four services. 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.
We found recruitment procedures were safe with appropriate checks undertaken in all services before new staff commenced employment. These included employment and personal references along with a Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS).
The registered managers had systems in place to record safeguarding concerns, accidents and incidents and take necessary action as required. Staff had received safeguarding training and understood their responsibilities to report any unsafe care or abusive practices.
Care records of people who used the services were person centred where appropriate, organised and identified support people required. Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of harm to people during delivery of their care. These had been kept under review and were relevant to the care provided.
We looked at how medicines were administered. The medicines administration record (MAR) sheets were legible and did not contain any gaps. The registered manager’s ensured only staff that had been trained to manage and administer medicines gave them to people.
People were kept safe and secure in all the services provided by the Phoenix Centre. For example the supported houses had appropriate numbers of staff deployed. This meant the service was meeting people’s needs and provided a flexible service. One staff member said, “We have plenty of staff to support the people we care for.”
The registered managers understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). This meant they were working within the law to support people who may lack capacity to make their own decisions.
People were supported to eat and drink and were encouraged to attend to their own dietary requirements. In the rehabilitation services people were supported to maintain their own dietary needs and budget arrangements for food. One person who was staying at the service said, “I was not able to do what I do now in relation to cooking. The staff have given me a lot more confidence.”
Staff we spoke with had a good understanding of how people should be treated in terms of respect and supporting people with dignity. We witnessed examples of this during our inspection. For example on person who received support from the domiciliary service said, “I was in a bit of a mess when I came home. However the agency has been so good and kind I feel much better now because of the care and attention I have received.”
People told us they were comfortable raising any issues, concerns or complaints with the management team. The services had arrangements in place to deal with these appropriately.
We found a number of audits were in place to monitor quality assurance. The management team and registered managers had systems in place to obtain the views of people who used services.
People told us they are fully involved in decision making regarding their care.
'We discussed the support to be provided when I visited the centre before I moved in'.
'The staff are absolutely brilliant here. I love it. I have no complaints about anything. I feel really well at the moment. I have gained some confidence and they are helping me develop new skills. I am doing my own shopping and managing my money with their support. I have learned to make my own meals. You can make a drink or a snack in the kitchen whenever you want. I come and go as I please. I visit the day centre three times a week and have started going to the gym'.
'I have been here for three weeks and think it is wonderful. You have complete freedom to come and go as you please. The staff are very helpful and kind. I can't praise the service enough. I have never spoken to anyone who isn't happy with the support they are receiving. I am fully involved in decision making about the support I am receiving. The staff are very relaxed and easy going'.
'I am doing my own shopping and managing my money with their support. I have learned to make my own meals and now enjoy cooking. You can make a drink or a snack in the kitchen whenever you want'.
'We choose and buy our own food and make our own meals. I am having lasagne tonight with garlic'.
'The staff are absolutely brilliant here'.
'The staff are very helpful and kind'.
'I can't praise the service enough. Have never spoken to anyone who wasn't happy with the support they are receiving. The staff are very relaxed and easy going'.