Advantage Healthcare - Nottingham

Updated 10 April 2020

Background

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: One inspector carried out the inspection.

Service and service type: This service provides care and support to people living in their own home' supported living' setting, so that they can live as independently as possible. People's care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. At the time of inspection, the service supported 22 people.

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 because we wanted to make sure someone was available to speak with us. We visited the registered office on 20 December 2019 and with prior consent visited two people in their homes on 23 December 2019 and also contacted relatives for their feedback.

What we did before the inspection: Information had been gathered before the inspection from notifications sent to us by the provider. Notifications are used to inform us about certain changes, events or incidents when they occur within the service. We received feedback from local authorities that contracted services and reviewed other information from people who made their views known to us.

The provider sent us a provider information return. Providers are required to send us key information about their service, what they do well and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

During the inspection: We spoke with two care staff, two nurses, two client manager's and the registered manager. We looked at care files belonging to five people who used the service and recruitment files including training records for five staff. We viewed management records and documentation relating to the running and monitoring of the service.

After the inspection: We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 10 April 2020

About the service: Interserve Nottingham is registered to provide personal care. It specialises in providing care and support for children living with their families and adults living at home. At the time of the inspection there were 22 people receiving personal care. The age of people receiving care ranged from two years to over 65 years of age.

People’s experience of using this service: People and relatives were extremely satisfied with the service people received and spoke highly of staff, nurses and the registered manager. People were supported by a small team of staff that understood their needs.

We found there were systems, processes and practices, which followed effectively to safeguard people from situations in which they may experience abuse including physical harm. Risks to people’s safety had been thoroughly assessed, monitored and managed so they were supported to stay safe while their freedom was respected. People told us they received their medicines as prescribed. Medicines administration records (MARs) reviewed had been completed by staff and were regularly audited confirming people's medicines were safely managed and accounted for.

Safe recruitment practices were followed before new care staff had been appointed. Staff had received all the training required to support people safely. Staff received regular supervision and annual appraisals and were able to reflect on the care and support they delivered. People were protected by the provider's processes for the prevention and control of infection. The provider was able to demonstrate lessons had been learnt when things had gone wrong.

People received personalised care that was responsive to their needs. Care staff understood the importance of promoting equality and diversity by supporting people to make choices about their care. Confidential personal information was kept private. Staff protected people’s rights; to lead as normal a life as possible. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The service encouraged regular feedback from people who used the service, relatives, care staff and professionals. One complaint had been received in the last 12 months and this had been responded to appropriately. People were introduced to lay advocates if necessary.

Comprehensive quality checks had been completed. This ensured people benefited from the service being able to quickly put problems right so that people could consistently receive safe care. People and relatives benefited from a robust professional management framework, which helped care staff to understand their responsibilities so that risks and regulatory requirements were met. Good team work was promoted and care staff were supported to speak out if they had any concerns about people not being treated in the right way. In addition, the registered persons worked in partnership with other agencies and stakeholders to support the development of joined-up care.

There was a registered manager in charge of day to day care operations, whose office team were in regular contact with staff and people.

Rating at last inspection: At the last inspection on 8 April 2017 we rated the service Good.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.