Aran Homes Limited Head Office

Updated 30 November 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 30 October 2018 and was undertaken by one adult social care inspector.

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because it is small and the manager is often at one of the supported living schemes as part of their managerial roles. We needed to be sure that they would be available for the inspection visit.

We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

Before the inspection, we checked for any notifications made to us by the provider and the information we held on our database about the service and provider. Statutory notifications are pieces of information about important events which took place at the service, such as safeguarding incidents, which the provider is required to send to us by law.

During the inspection, we spoke with two people using the service and one relative, two support staff, the business manager and the registered manager.

We reviewed the care records for two people using the service to see if they were up-to-date and reflective of the care which people received. We also looked at personnel records for three members of staff, including details of their recruitment, training and supervision. We reviewed further records relating to the management of the service, including quality assurance processes, to see how the service was run.

Updated 30 November 2018

Aran homes limited is registered to provide domiciliary care and support to people with long term mental health conditions at two houses based in Westcliffe on Sea and Haringey. There were 19 people using the service at the time of our inspection. However, the registered manager told us that only two people were in need of support with personal care. Only the provision of personal care is regulated by the Care Quality Commission.

This was the first inspection of the service that was registered in April 2017.

The service had a registered manager in post. 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.

There was good overall feedback about the service, from people using it and their relatives. We found people were treated with kindness and compassion, and that they were given emotional support when needed. The service ensured people's privacy and dignity was respected and promoted.

People’s needs were identified and responded to well. The service was effective at working in co-operation with other organisations to deliver good care and support. This included where people’s needs had changed, and where people needed ongoing healthcare support.

The support staff demonstrated a good knowledge of people’s care needs, significant people and events in their lives, and their daily routines and preferences. They also understood the provider’s safeguarding procedures and could explain how they would protect people if they had any concerns.

Person centred care was fundamental to the service and staff made sure people were at the centre of their practice. Care plans focused on the whole person, and assessments and plans were regularly updated

Staff told us they really enjoyed working in the service and spoke positively about the culture and management of the service. Staff described management as supportive. Staff confirmed they were able to raise issues and make suggestions about the way the service was provided.

Medicines were managed safely. The provider had systems in place for the recording and storing of medicines and regular weekly audits were taking place. Medicines training had taken place for all staff.

People were supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. People’s views on the service were regularly sought and acted on

Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s needs. Recruitment practices were safe and relevant checks had been completed before staff worked at the service.

People participated in a range of social activities and were supported to access the local community.

The registered manager and staff ensured everyone was supported to maintain good health.

Staff were well supported with training and supervision which helped them to ensure they provided effective care for people.

People and those important to them, such as their relatives or professionals were asked for feedback about the quality of the service.

The registered manager and staff knew what they should do if anyone made a complaint.

The service was well led. There was a clear set of values in place which all of the staff put into practice. The management team had developed robust quality assurance checks, to make sure standards of care were maintained. There was an open culture and staff said they felt well motivated and valued by all of the managers.