Archived: Sugarman Health and Wellbeing - Manchester

Updated 17 October 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 was 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 29 August 2017, was carried out by one adult social care inspector and was announced. The provider was given 24 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

Before our inspection, we looked at information we, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) had received about the service including notifications received from the registered manager. We checked that we had received these in a timely manner. We also looked at safeguarding referrals, complaints and any other information from members of the public.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We visited the office on 29 August 2017 and looked at records, which included three people’s care records, three staff files and other records relating to the management of the service. We also visited the home of one person using the service.

During the inspection we spoke to the registered manager, the complex care manager, a co-ordinator and staff. Following this visit we made phone calls to staff, relatives of the people who used the service and other professionals.

Updated 17 October 2017

We visited Sugarman Health and Wellbeing – Manchester on 29 August 2017. Sugarman Health and Wellbeing – Manchester provides care and support to people who need the services of a domiciliary care agency, including 24-hour support in people's homes. Sugarman Health and Wellbeing – Manchester supports people with a range of conditions including people with learning disabilities and/or mental health needs. The agency was providing a service for six people at the time of inspection. The agency's office was situated in Manchester City Centre

The service had a registered manager who had been in post since September 2016. 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.

The provider had systems in place to ensure that people were protected from the risk of harm or abuse. We saw there were procedures in place to guide staff in relation to safeguarding adults and all staff had undergone training about both safeguarding and whistleblowing.

Staff were recruited safely and there was sufficient evidence that staff had received a proper induction or suitable training to do their job role effectively. Staff had received spot checks on their competence and regular supervision. There were also regular team meetings being held.

People's medicines were handled safely and were given to them in accordance with their prescriptions. People were supported to maintain good health and receive health care support. People's GPs and other healthcare professionals such as community nurses and occupational therapists were contacted for advice about people’s health needs whenever necessary.

All of the responses from the people who spoke with us was that the service was either very good or excellent. People told us they were very happy with the staff and felt that the staff understood the support needs of the people using the service. People told us they had no complaints about the service. The provider had a complaints procedure in place and this was available in the ‘service user guide’.

The care records and risk assessments we looked at contained good information about the support people required and recognised people’s needs. All records we saw were complete, up to date and regularly reviewed. We found that people were involved in decisions about their care and support.

The staff employed by Sugarman Health and Wellbeing – Manchester, knew the people they were supporting and the care they needed as staff were recruited and specifically trained to meet their needs. People who used the service were involved in the recruitment of their staff team wherever possible.

The services policies and procedures had been regularly reviewed by the provider and these included policies on health and safety, confidentiality, mental capacity, medication, whistle blowing, safeguarding, recruitment and lone working.