Archived: Next Steps Community Care Limited

As part of this inspection we spoke with four people who used the service, two family members of people who use the service, the registered manager, two other managers and four members of care staff. We also reviewed records relating to the management of the service which included five care plans, daily records, policies and procedures, staff records and quality assurance monitoring records.

Below is a summary of what we found. The summary describes what people using the service, their relatives and the staff told us, what we observed and the records we looked at.

Is the service safe?

People told us that they were satisfied with how their support and care needs had been safely met. They also told us that they felt safe because they liked the members of staff and trusted them.

Health and safety risk assessments had been carried out and measures were in place to minimise these, to keep people safe.

CQC monitors the operation of the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards which applies to care services. While no applications have needed to be submitted, proper policies and procedures were in place. Relevant staff have been trained to understand when an application should be made, and how to submit one.

Equipment was available to support people's individual needs. Members of staff were trained to safely support people with their equipment.

There was a sufficient number of staff employed to provide people with safe and appropriate care as planned.

Is the service effective?

People's choices and decisions about their support and care were respected and valued. People told us that they were actively consulted, including family members who represented their relative who used the service, about their support and care.

Systems were in place to ensure that where people may not have had the mental capacity to understand complex information, their health and social care needs had been met in their best interests.

One of the people using the service told us that they were out and about and were having, 'Fun and a good day.' Other people told us that they enjoyed going out shopping and going out for a walk.

The standard of support and care had enabled people to independently live at home.

Is the service caring?

A family member of a relative who used the service told us that they had been, 'Impressed' with how staff had demonstrated a caring attitude toward their relative.

People who we spoke with said that they liked the members of staff and how they were being looked after. They were laughing and said that they felt happy when we spoke with them.

Is the service responsive?

People's needs, choices and personal preferences had been assessed and there was evidence that these had been kept under review. Members of staff demonstrated to us how they respected people's choices and decisions about their support and care. One of the people who used the service told us that they did not want to go out, as planned, because, 'It's too wet (raining). ' They told us that they were staying at home and had decided to watch a television programme instead.

People's individual social care needs were responded to. People were supported to engage in meaningful social and recreational activities. They were also supported to maintain contact with their friends and family members, where this support was needed.

Is the service well-led?

There were monitoring and reviewing systems in place to ensure that people were provided with safe and appropriate care. Spot checks were carried out on members of staff. In addition, senior members of staff had carried out audits to check that people were protected from unsafe support and care.

Members of staff told us that they had the training and support to safely do their job, which they said they enjoyed.

People, including members of staff and family members of people who used the service, were provided with opportunities to make suggestions and comments to improve the quality of people's support and care.

We looked at the medication system being used by the service and noted that the provider had a robust system to manage medication safely and there was a policy in place for staff to follow.

We spoke with three staff members who told us they enjoyed working for Next Steps Community Care. Staff received appropriate training relevant for their role and had completed training in key areas.

The provider had effective systems in place to monitor the quality of the service provided.

We found that staff worked with individuals and families to develop their support plans and manage any risks to their personal safety. People developed good relationships with the support staff who provided continuity of care and supported people to pursue their hobbies and interests.

Staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding processes and took steps to ensure that the people they cared for were safe from the risk of abuse.

The provider followed an effective recruitment process and had systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service that people received.