We visited the registered office of the service on 19 and 23 January 2012. The registered manager described the service as a reablement service. It offered adults care and support for up to six weeks in their own home to regain some independence after illness or injury.We followed the care of two people. Each person was at a different stage in their six week programme of service.
We looked at a copy of the care records file for each person. We saw that each person had complete and up to date records individual to them. This included a care assessment and reablement support plan and relevant risk assessments. We noted that for one person a risk identified by the referring social worker was unclear and had not been accounted for in the person's support plan. The registered manager and workers that we spoke to assured us that this identified risk was not an issue for the person. We have asked the provider organisation to improve how it responds to lack of clarity in referrals in the future.
We spoke to the main care workers for the people whose care we followed. Each worker knew the person's assessed needs and reablement plan. They were also able to describe the risks that the person's condition presented and the agreed plan for managing those risks. Workers were involved in the process of weekly assessment of each person's reablement programme. They talked about people with respect. They were clearly interested in people's ability to regain skills that helped them to stay in their own home safely. They described the creative approach that they had taken to supporting one person whose care we followed to manage their own nutrition again.
The service was staffed and managed flexibly. This allowed for changes to people's support plans and level of support as they regained their independence.
We found that each worker had the up to date training necessary to meet the needs of the person who they regularly visited.
We found that the provider organisation had clear policy and procedures for safeguarding people from abuse. Care workers and managers knew the procedures.
The provider organisation had quality assurance audit systems in place. These included quality audit questionnaires that people are asked to complete after their six week reablement programme. We looked at a sample of these that were returned in December 2011. The responses were mainly very positive about the service. Some people made additional comments:
One person wrote 'I felt they were friends and am glad to be able to do things myself.'