Archived: Ansar Projects

This was an announced inspection on the 20 September. Two days prior to the inspection, we contacted the provider and told them of our plans to carry out a comprehensive inspection of the service. This was because the location is a small care home for three younger adults who may have been out during the day; we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

The service had a registered manager in place at the time of our inspection. 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. However, the registered manager was on extended leave and the service was being managed by other senior staff. For this inspection it was the team manager.

Policies and procedures were in place to safeguard people from abuse and staff had received training in safeguarding adults. Staff were able to tell us how to identify and respond to allegations of abuse. They were also aware of the responsibility to ‘whistle blow’ on colleagues who they thought might be delivering poor practice to people.

Recruitment was robust and helped protect staff from harmful workers.

People were supported by sufficient numbers of well trained staff. New staff received induction training, training was ongoing to meet people’s needs and staff were supported and supervised.

People were involved in planning, shopping and preparing their meals. Staff encouraged people to take a healthy diet.

The provider was meeting the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards.

People who used the service had personalised their rooms to suit their own tastes and also had some input into the homes decoration which was very homely in character.

Staff were described as caring and were observed to be professional and friendly to people who used the service. Key workers regularly sat and discussed care and activities to ensure people’s views of the service were obtained.

Records were kept securely and staff were taught the principles of confidentiality to help maintain people’s privacy and dignity.

People had a range of social activities to help them lead fulfilling lives. This could be individual or as part of a group. People also had access to the community, went on holidays and were supported to attend college or work.

People were able to voice their concerns if they wished and had access to the complaints procedure.

Plans of care were individualised, met individual health care and social needs and were regularly reviewed and discussed with people who used the service.

There were sufficient audits for managers to help maintain or improve standards.

Policies and procedures were available for staff to follow good practice.

People who used the service and staff said managers were approachable and they felt supported.

People's physical and mental health needs had been individually assessed and these needs were regularly reviewed by healthcare professionals. Their day to day care and support needs had also been assessed and we saw evidence that people were consulted about the care plans in place.

We saw that people's medication was locked in a cabinet and accurate records were kept of their administration.

The manager carried out regular assessments on all aspects of the service. Any areas where improvements could be made were considered.

A recruitment process was followed for all staff. Checks were carried out to help confirm staff members were of good character and had the required skills to perform their work.

We saw that people's medical, care and support needs had been individually assessed. Detailed care plans were in place that people had been involved in and given their opinion of. Where people did not have the capacity to consent to certain aspects of their life decisions had been made in their best interest.

A chef worked at the home and provided a healthy diet, with advice from a dietitian if required. People's religious needs were met.

There were enough staff so that each person could have the support of two care workers during each day. Staff were well trained.

All records were up to date, easy to understand and kept securely.