Archived: Abbeyfield Girton - Care at Home Service

Updated 23 February 2016

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 was announced and took place on 6 January 2016 and was undertaken by one inspector and an expert by experience. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice of this inspection. This is because the manager is often out of the office supporting staff and we needed to be sure that they would be available. Before the inspection we looked at all of the information that we held about the service. This included information from notifications received by us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send to us by law.

During the inspection we visited the service’s office, visited and spoke with four people in their flats. We spoke with six people and four people’s relatives on the phone. We also spoke with the manager and two members of care staff.

We looked at five people’s care records and records in relation to the management of the service. We also looked at the management of staff such as recruitment, supervision, and training records. We spoke with healthcare professionals who had contact with the service. These included a local GP practice, an occupational therapist, a local pharmacy and a manager at the housing complex who had regular contact with the service.

Updated 23 February 2016

Abbeyfield Girton - Care at Home Service is registered to provide personal care to people living in their own flats. There were 16 people using the service when we visited. This inspection was announced and took place on 6 January 2016. The service did not have a registered manager at the time of this inspection. Although there was a manager in place they were not yet registered. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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. However, a manager had recently been appointed in November 2015 and they were in the process of applying to become registered with the Care Quality Commission.

Staff knew what action to take to ensure that people were protected if they suspected they were at risk of abuse. There were sufficient numbers of staff to provide care to the people using the service.

Recruitment procedures ensured that only suitable staff were employed to work with people using the service. Risks to people’s health, wellbeing and safety had been assessed and actions had been taken to reduce any identified risks. Arrangements were in place to ensure that people were supported and protected with the safe management of their medication.

The CQC is required by law to monitor the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA 2005) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS) and to report on what we find. The provider was acting in accordance with the requirements of the MCA including the DoLS. The provider demonstrated how they supported people to make decisions about their care and where they were unable to do so, there were records showing that decisions were being taken in people’s best interests. This also meant that people were not being deprived of their liberty with the protection of the law.

Staff had received training on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS).

People were supported by staff with their nutritional needs, where appropriate, during the care visits they received.

Members of staff were trained to provide effective and safe care which met people’s individual needs and wishes. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities. They were supported by the manager to maintain and develop their skills and knowledge through ongoing support and regular training. The staff were in contact with a range of health care professionals to ensure that care and support to people was well coordinated and appropriate.

People’s privacy and dignity were respected and their care and support was provided in a caring and patient way.

Care and support was provided to people in their own flats situated in a purpose built housing complex. People received a service that was based on their personal needs and wishes. Changes in people’s needs were quickly identified and their care plans were amended when required. The service was flexible and responded very positively to people’s requests. People who used the service felt able to make requests and express their opinions and views. Proactive measures were in place to prevent people from becoming socially isolated. A complaints procedure was in place and complaints had been responded to, to the satisfaction of the complainant. People felt able to raise concerns with the staff at any time.

The provider had effective quality assurance processes and procedures in place to monitor the quality and safety of people’s care. People and their relatives were able to make suggestions in relation to the support and care provided.