Archived: Flexicare (Oxford and Abingdon)

Updated 23 August 2017

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 the 27 July 2017. It was an announced inspection. We told the provider two days before our visit that we would be coming. We did this because the registered manager is sometimes out of the office supporting staff or visiting children who use the service. We needed to be sure that someone would be in.

This inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before the inspection the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give us key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the completed PIR and notifications we had received. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about in law.

We were unable to speak with children due to their dependency. We spoke with six parents, three care staff, and the registered manager. We looked at four childrens’ care records, four staff files and staff training records. We also looked at a range of records relating to the management of the service. The methods we used to gather information included pathway tracking, which is capturing the experiences of a sample of people by following a child’s route through the service and getting their parents views on their care.

Updated 23 August 2017

We undertook an announced inspection of Flexicare Oxford and Abingdon on 27 July 2017.

Flexicare is a small local Oxfordshire charity which provides a sitting service in the homes of families with children living with severe physical and/or learning disabilities. This may include needs around mobility, meeting nutritional needs, breathing, communication and seizures. Two part time care coordinators and a team of 17 volunteers supported 41 families.

There was a registered manager in post. 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.

Parents told us children benefitted from very caring relationships with the staff. There were sufficient staff to meet children’s needs and children received their care when they expected. Staffing levels and sitting schedules were consistently maintained as visits were not arranged unless the service had capacity to fulfil the commitment. The service had safe, robust recruitment processes.

Parents were involved in creating childrens’ support plans. Visit times were confirmed before the visit took place and parents knew who would visit to provide a service. No missed visits were reported or recorded. Parents told us it was a reliable service.

Children were safe. Staff understood their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding children. Staff had received regular training to make sure they stayed up to date with recognising and reporting safety concerns. The service had systems in place to notify the appropriate authorities where concerns were identified. Children had sufficient amounts to eat and drink and received support with meeting their nutritional and hydration needs where needed.

Where risks to children had been identified risk assessments were in place and action had been taken to manage the risks. Children were assessed prior to staff supporting them and received care from staff who were knowledgeable about their needs and how best to support them. Most medicines were administered by their parents. However, where staff administered medicine children received their medicines safely as prescribed.

Parents told us they were confident they would be listened to and action would be taken if they raised a concern. We saw a complaints policy and procedure was in place. The service had systems to assess the quality of the service provided. Learning was identified and action taken to make improvements which improved children’s’ safety and quality of life. Systems were in place that ensured children were protected against the risks of unsafe or inappropriate care.

Staff spoke positively about the support they received from the registered manager. Staff meetings were scheduled as were annual appraisals. Staff told us the registered manager was approachable and there was a good level of communication within the service.