Archived: Options Health Care Services

Is the service safe?

Is the service effective?

Is the service caring?

Is the service responsive?

Is the service well-led?

This is a summary of what we found-

Is the service safe?

An assessment of needs was undertaken before the agency started to provide support.

We found that all the necessary recruitment checks had been undertaken including professional references, identity checks and enhanced criminal record checks.

Is the service effective?

A relative of the person who used the service confirmed that the care that staff provided was in accordance with their instructions and the person's needs.

People's needs were assessed and care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with their individual care plan.

We found significant shortfalls in the staff training provision.

Is the service caring?

A relative of the person who used the service told us, 'I am very happy with the care they provide, they have a huge empathy towards [Person's name], they are doing a superb job.'

Is the service responsive?

The relative of the person who used the service said that they were very happy with the care that the person received.

Is the service well led?

We found records across the entire service were not always signed and dated to indicate who had prepared them and when this had taken place.

We found that staff had not received the basic core training necessary to support people safely.

We spoke with a relative of the person who used the service. They told us that before the service had started to provide care for the person, they had discussed the person's needs and the care they could provide.

The relative said that they were very happy with the care that the person received. They told us, "[Care worker] is very flexible. If there is a problem at night they will come." They went on to say, "They know what they are doing. They have a good relationship with [the person]."

We saw that the service had an up to date policy on the safeguarding of vulnerable adults. We spoke with the care worker who was able to demonstrate that they had a good understanding of the types of abuse that might occur.

We saw that the service had asked the person who used the service for feedback on the quality of the care that had been provided. The form had been completed by the person's relative and the feedback had been entirely positive.

We saw that the needs assessments and associated risk assessments had been completed in August 2012. The manager told us that there had been changes that affected both the care that the person needed, and was provided with, and the risks associated with the provision of the care. The needs assessments, care plan and risk assessments had not been updated to reflect the identified changes.