Archived: Care and Support Tameside

Updated 13 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 checked 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.

The inspection was carried out to look at whether the service had completed their action plan and made improvements to the service as required following the last inspection.

The inspection took place on 16 August 2017 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service for younger adults who are often out during the day; we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

The inspection was undertaken by one adult social care inspector from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Prior to the inspection we reviewed information we held about the service and notifications we had received from the service. We contacted four health and social care professionals to obtain their views of the service. We did not obtain any negative comments.

Prior to our inspection of the service, we were provided with a copy of a completed provider information return (PIR); this is a document that asks the provider to give us some key information about the service and any improvements they are planning to make.

During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager, the service manager and five members of support staff. We spent time at the office and looked at three care plans, six staff files, training records, supervision records, service user satisfaction surveys, meeting minutes and audits. Children who used the service were unable to speak with us, but we contacted six parents by telephone to obtain their views of the service.

Updated 13 October 2017

The inspection took place on 16 August 2017 and was announced. The last inspection took place on 19 to 24 October 2016 and the service was rated as Requires Improvement. There were three breaches of the regulations in relation to good governance, for which a warning notice had been issued, fit and proper persons employed and staffing. The service had produced an action plan and at this inspection we found significant improvements in all areas.

Aspire Tameside has offices in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside and provides care and support to disabled children and adults living in their own accommodation in the surrounding Tameside area. At the time of the inspection there were 12 children and no adults receiving care from the service.

There was a registered manager at the service. 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 recruitment process was robust, helping ensure staff were suitable to work with vulnerable adults and children. There was an appropriate safeguarding policy and procedure in place for both adults and children and staff demonstrated a good knowledge of safeguarding.

Staff had undertaken infection control training and were supplied with appropriate equipment to help prevent the spread of infection. Medicines systems were safe.

Appropriate risk assessments were in place. Accidents and incidents were recorded and appropriate actions were taken.

There was an appropriate induction programme in place and further training and refresher courses were undertaken by all staff.

Staff we spoke with demonstrated the skills and values required to do the job required of them. Care files included relevant information to assist staff to meet identified needs.

The service ensured they considered people’s best interests when delivering support.

Relatives we spoke with were positive about the care received by their loved ones. People we spoke with particularly appreciated the consistency of carers

Independence was promoted and people who used the service were encouraged to do what they could for themselves. There was a service users’ information booklet given to potential users of the service.

Staff we spoke with were aware of the importance of confidentiality and respected people’s dignity.

Care plans evidenced person-centred care and included relevant information about people’s likes, dislikes, preferences and background. The care plans were reviewed and updated regularly.

People who used the service were supported to undertake activities and events that they enjoyed and had expressed a wish to do. The service were able to respond promptly to requests for a change in care delivery.

There was an appropriate complaints policy and procedure. Concerns were addressed appropriately and the service had received a number of compliments.

Relatives told us the management were approachable. Staff said they were well supported. Staff supervisions and appraisals were undertaken regularly. Staff meetings took place but attendance was low.

The service carried out regular checks on staff competence to help ensure staff skills and knowledge remained current and relevant. Any shortfalls were addressed via training and/or supervision.

There were systems in place to audit the quality of service delivery. An action plan was produced following the quality monitoring to address any concerns raised.