Ghulab Ashram

Updated 31 May 2018

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 26 April 2018 and was announced. The inspection team consisted of one inspector. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provided a domiciliary care service. The provider can often be out of the office supporting staff and we needed to ensure that someone would be in.

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. As part of the inspection we reviewed information we held about the service including statutory notifications that had been submitted. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. We also spoke with the local authority about information they held about the provider.

We spoke with five people who received care and support. We spoke with the head of care services, the senior personal assistant and five personal assistants during the inspection. We looked at the care records for three people to see how their care was planned. We also looked at two staff recruitment files, medication records, audit records and complaints and compliments records.

Updated 31 May 2018

The inspection was announced and took place on 26 April 2018. We gave the provider 48 hours’ of our intention to undertake the inspection. This was because the service provides domiciliary care to people in their own homes and we needed to make sure someone would be available at the office.

Ghulab Ashram provides personal care for people, living in a purpose built scheme where there are individual flats with shared facilities, such as a dining area and lounge areas. Staff provide personal care and support to people at pre-arranged times and in emergencies. There were 14 people receiving personal care when we inspected. Since the last inspection of Ghulab Ashram the provider has changed and the service was under new ownership. As a result of this change this will be their first ratings inspection of this location.

A registered manager was in place. A 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 registered manager was not in work at the time of our inspection, the provider had taken action to cover the role and support was being provided from the registered managers from two of the providers other services. On the day of our inspection we met with the head of care services and the senior personal assistant from Ghulab Ashram.

People said they felt safe living at scheme and received support from staff who were kind and respectful towards them. Staff understood how to protect people from abuse and received regular training around how to keep people safe.

People told us they received their medicines as prescribed and there were enough staff to support them. Staff had been recruited following appropriate checks. The provider had arrangements which made sure there were sufficient care staff to provide support to people in their own homes when they needed or wanted help or assistance.

People told us staff and the management team were approachable and if they had any concerns they would be listened to. Staff had received appropriate induction training and on-going training was in place to ensure they had the skills to meet the needs of the people they supported. People had positive relationships with staff, who knew their individual needs.

People told us that the liked the staff who supported them and were positive about the care that they received. They felt they were listened to and staff understood they could only care for and support people who consented to their care. People told us staff were caring, and they were supported to maintain their independence and to access facilities at Ghulab Ashram so they did not feel isolated.

Staff spoke warmly of the people they cared for and said they enjoyed their role and felt supported by management team to provide a good service.

People told us they were involved in the care and support they received. People told us staff were quick to respond when they were unwell and supported them to access other healthcare professionals when required.

Staff treated people with respect and maintained people’s privacy and dignity when providing care. Where needed, people were supported to eat and drink enough to remain healthy. People told us staff helped them prepare meals of their choice if needed or they could attend the on-site restaurant.

Complaints information was available and people and staff were confident of the actions they would take if they had concerns and any concerns would be dealt with appropriately.

People told us they enjoyed living in the scheme and spoke positively about the management team. The provider ensured regular checks were completed to monitor the quality of the care that people received. Areas identified for improvement were acted on.