Background to this inspection
Updated
31 May 2019
The inspection:
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team:
The inspection was carried out by one inspector who was supported by a British Sign Language interpreter.
Service and service type:
Action Deafness provides support to deaf or hard of hearing people living in their own homes. At the time of our inspection, they worked in partnership with another specialist agency in Cambridgeshire to provide care and support to people in their own homes in Cambridgeshire.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection:
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be available to meet with us.
Inspection site visit activity started on 28 March 2019 and ended on10 April 2019. We visited the office location in Loughborough, Leicestershire on 28 March to see the registered manager; and to review care records and policies and procedures.
What we did:
Prior to the inspection taking place, we reviewed information we held about the service. This included any statutory notifications. A notification is information about important events that the provider is required to send us by law.
During the inspection we looked at a variety of records. These included care records relating to three people, three staff recruitment and training records. We also viewed other documentation which was relevant to the management of the service. We met with three people in their own homes to gain their views about the service. We also met with two care staff which included a team leader.
After the inspection; the registered manager sent us additional documentation which we reviewed as part of this inspection.
Updated
31 May 2019
About the service: Action Deafness is a charity which provides a range of specialist services, including care and support, to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Action Deafness works in partnership with another specialist agency in Cambridgeshire to provide care and support to people in their own homes in Cambridgeshire. Its office base is in Leicestershire. At the time of the inspection, Action Deafness was providing personal care to eight people using the service. All eight people and staff supporting them were deaf and communicated using British Sign Language.
People’s experience of using this service:
People received safe care. However, information in their risk assessment did not always reflect known risk to their care and support. This meant that staff did not always have sufficient information to guide them. The provider needed to make improvement in their recruitment protocols to ensure that they assure themselves that they employed staff who were suited to work with people that used the service.
There was sufficient number of staff deployed to meet people’s needs. People’s medicines were managed safely. Staff were knowledgeable on how to identify and report any concerns regarding people’s welfare and wellbeing,
Staff had the relevant skills and experience they required to meet people’s needs. They sought people’s consent before they delivered care and offered them choice and control. They demonstrated that they understood the requirement of the Mental Capacity Act (2005).
People received care that was tailored to their individual needs. They were actively involved in planning their own care and support. Care staff supported them to access opportunities and events of their choice.
The provider had suitable systems in place to deliver a good standard of care. The management team provided sufficient supervision and guidance to support staff to meet the needs of people that used the service.
Rating at last inspection: Requires Improvement; published 27 December 2017.
Why we inspected: Planned inspection based on previous rating.
At the last inspection on 21 September and 03 October 2017, we found three breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated activities) Regulations 2014.The service was rated overall Requires Improvement.
Following our inspection, the provider informed us what they would do to meet the regulations.
At this comprehensive inspection we checked if they had now met the regulations. Our visit was announced. This meant the staff and the provider knew we would be visiting. During this inspection we found the provider had implemented the necessary improvements. At this visit we found evidence to demonstrate and support the overall rating of Good.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor the home in line with our regulatory powers.
More information is in the detailed findings below.