Archived: Cordant Care - Leeds

Updated 13 April 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 18 February 2016 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service; we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector and one inspection manager who visited the provider’s premises.

At the time of our inspection there were three people using the service who received personal care. We spoke on the telephone with one person who used the service and two people’s relatives. We spoke with two health professionals, five members of staff, the quality manager and the registered manager. We spent time looking at documents and records that related to people’s care and the management of the service. We looked at three people’s care and support plans.

Before our inspection, we reviewed all the information we held about the home, including previous inspection reports. We contacted the local authority and Healthwatch. Healthwatch stated they had no comments or concerns about this service. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We also contacted the local authority who told us they had no reported concerns.

Before the 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.

Updated 13 April 2016

This was an announced inspection carried out on 18 February 2016. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be in. This was the first inspection we have carried out at this location.

Cordant Care provides care and support for people with complex health needs who live in their own homes. The service also provides care and support through a live-in service.

At the time of this inspection the service had a 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.

We found medicines were mostly managed safely, although one person had been administered two medicines which their medication administration record stated they should not receive at the same time. The epilepsy guidance in one person’s care plan needed to be more specific to their needs.

The provider carried out audits which identified where gaps existed in their processes and systems. Some issues highlighted in the action plan required timescales to make this more effective. Medication audits were regularly completed and had identified some gaps in recording.

People and relatives told us the care provided was very good and staff were able to identify the health and support needs of the people they cared for. Staff told us how they protected people’s privacy and dignity and the relatives we spoke with confirmed this happened. Relatives told us staff arrived on time and stayed for the full duration of their shift.

The provider worked closely with health professionals to ensure people who required complex care were effectively supported. Health professionals spoke very positively about the care and support delivered by the provider.

People told us they felt safe and we saw there were systems and processes in place to protect people from the risk of harm. Staff knew how to identify abuse and where they should report their concerns to. Recruitment procedures used by the provider were generally well-managed, although gaps in employment history were not always checked.

Risk assessments and assessment of needs were used to create care plans which were detailed and explained how people wanted to receive their care and support. Reviews of services which involved people and their representatives were recorded in care plans.

Staff were satisfied with the induction they received. Staff were up to date with their training programme and they received specialist training where needed. . Staff received regular contact from the registered manager who had created a schedule of supervision dates for 2016.

Staff were able to describe the Mental Capacity Act (2005) in relation to their role. The registered manager had made further training in this area available to staff which was to be completed by the end of March 2016.

The provider had a robust system for managing complaints and had used this effectively in dealing with a concern we looked at.

People, relatives and staff spoke positively about the registered manager who had a visible presence in the service. We found they were accessible and maintained regular contact with the people they were supporting and staff they managed. Quality audits were taking place and had already identified areas for improvement. Some actions required timescales to be specified.

We found a breach of regulation 12 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014. You can see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.