Background to this inspection
Updated
21 April 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 checked 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.
In accordance with our guidance we told the provider we were undertaking this inspection to ensure someone was in the office to meet us. This announced inspection took place in the office on the 30 March 2016, contacting relatives and professionals on the 01 April 2016 and was conducted by one inspector.
This service supports people who live in their own homes or provided support in other settings such as a school. We looked at the care records for three people who used the service. We also looked at a range of records relating to how the service was managed; these included training records, recruitment, quality assurance audits and policies and procedures. People who used the service had complex needs and could not communicate with us verbally. We spoke with three family members, a manager of another service, the registered manager and two staff members.
Before this inspection we reviewed previous inspection reports and notifications that we had received from the service. We received 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 any improvements they plan to make. We used the document to help plan the inspection.
We also asked Blackburn with Darwen Healthwatch and the local authority safeguarding and contracts departments for their views of the service. No concerns were raised.
Updated
21 April 2016
Prestige Nursing Agency provides trained nursing staff and health care assistants to hospitals, care homes and to individuals in their own homes. People who use the service may be funded through the NHS, the local authority or opt to pay privately. The agency provides services to children as well as adults and also nursing and personal care to people at the end of their lives. The agency operates from offices within Blackburn Rovers football stadium and there is ample parking. The offices can be reached using a lift and is well positioned on local public transport routes. The service was currently supporting 43 adults and children with many having complex needs.
The service were last inspected on the 13 February 2014 when they met all the regulations we inspected.
The service had a registered manager. 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 a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
Staff were aware of and had been trained in safeguarding procedures to help protect the health and welfare of people who used the service.
Risk assessments for health needs or environmental hazards helped protect the health and welfare of people who used the service but did not restrict their lifestyles.
Plans of care were individual to each person and showed staff had taken account of their wishes. Plans of care were regularly reviewed.
People who used the service had complex needs and staff were trained in how to support each individual. We saw details in the plans of care for how staff should support people to take sufficient food and fluids.
People who used the service had access to a range of activities they enjoyed and were suitable for their age and abilities.
The agency asked for people’s views about how the service was performing and we saw evidence that the manager responded to their views.
There was a suitable complaints procedure for people to voice their concerns. There had not been any major concerns since the last inspection.
Family members said staff knew how to communicate with their relatives and one family member in particular said staff could converse with her relative’s complex non-verbal communication style.
Staff were recruited using current guidelines to help minimise the risk of abuse to people who used the service.
Staff were trained in medicines administration and supported people to take their medicines if it was a part of their care package.
Staff received an induction and were supported when they commenced work to become competent to work with vulnerable people. Staff were well trained and supervised to feel confident within their roles. Staff were encouraged to take further training in health and social care topics.
Management conducted audits to ensure the service was performing well or devised an action plan for any area they found lacking.
The office was suitable for providing a domiciliary care service and was staffed during office hours and there was an on call service for people to contact out of normal working hours.
People who used the service thought managers were accessible and available to talk to and they responded when contacted to discuss care or other arrangements.