Archived: City Breaks

Updated 10 May 2017

We carried out this comprehensive inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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 21 March 2017 and was unannounced. It was undertaken by one inspector.

Before our inspection, the provider completed 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. We also reviewed information we held about the service about the provider such as statutory notifications of important events and incidents such as allegations of abuse.

During the inspection we spoke with three people using the service. We also spoke with the registered manager and the support staff. We looked at the care records and medicine administration records of three people to see how their care and medicines were managed. We also reviewed four staff files and records relating to the management of the service including health and safety and quality audits.

After the inspection we made several efforts to contact relatives of people who use the service and professionals involved in the care and support of people but we were unsuccessful.

Updated 10 May 2017

City Breaks provides a respite service for people with a learning disability and people with an autistic spectrum disorder. City Breaks can accommodate up to four people at one time.

This unannounced inspection took place on 21 March 2017. At the time of our inspection three people were using the service. At our inspection of the service on 29 July 2015 the service was rated Good. At this inspection they remained rated as Good.

The manager in post had not registered with us as the registered manager. 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.

There were enough staff on shift to safely support people. Staff told us they could request for additional staff to support people if required. Staff managed people’s medicines in a safe way. This included the way they administered, stored and disposed of medicines.

Staff understood how to respond if they suspected people were being abused to keep them safe and had received training in safeguarding adults. There were assessments of risks and management plans in place to guide staff on how to prevent and reduce avoidable harm to people.

Staff continued to be well supported in their roles to be effective. They received regular training, supervision and were appraised annually. Staff demonstrated they had the skills and knowledge to support people. Staff understood their responsibility under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). They supported people to make decisions appropriately and promoted their rights. Staff supported people to access the health and social care services they required to maintain their health and wellbeing.

People enjoyed the food and drink they received and were provided with food and drink of their choice and preference. People had access to food and drink throughout the day.

Staff knew the people they supported including how to respond when they became anxious or presented behaviours which challenged the service. Staff treated people with dignity and respect. Staff encouraged and supported people to maintain relationships important to them. They also supported people to find love and friendships. Staff communicated with people in the way they understood.

People’s individual care needs had been assessed and their support planned and delivered in accordance with their wishes. People’s needs and preferences were reviewed and updated each time they came to use the service to ensure their needs could be met by the service.

People were encouraged to follow their interests and develop daily living skills. People took part in a range of activities within and outside the service. People were allowed to go out as they wished. Staff promoted people’s independence in the way they supported them.

There was a complaints procedure in place which was accessible to people. People told us they knew how to complain if they were unsatisfied with the service. The provider had a range of audits in place to assess, monitor and improve the service. The manager involved people and staff in the running of the service. The provider was meeting their statutory responsibility to submit notifications to the CQC.