Background to this inspection
Updated
1 May 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 comprehensive inspection took place on 27 and 28 March and was unannounced. The inspection was completed by one inspector. After our inspection visit we contacted three relatives of people who used the respite service by telephone.
Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). The PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed other information that we held about the service including previous inspection reports and notifications. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.
We contacted the local authority commissioning and safeguarding teams. We also contacted the local Healthwatch board. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.
We made observations of the care and support provided at Creative Support Respite Services, including the mealtime experience for people and interaction between people using the service and staff throughout the inspection.
We spoke with four people who used the service, three relatives, the registered manager, the area manager and two care staff. We looked at the care files of four people who used the respite service, two staff files and records relating to the management of the home including training records, medicine administration records, quality assurance systems and maintenance records.
Updated
1 May 2018
Creative Support respite service is a respite service for people with a learning disability. Up to seven people can stay at the service at a time. There were five people using the service at the time of our inspection. People are assessed by their local authority social services and provided with an agreed number of days respite provision per year. The service is single storey and has adapted rooms and bathrooms, with track hoists and accessible baths and showers to meet people’s needs.
At our last inspection in April 2016 we rated the service as good overall, with the safe domain rated as required improvement. At our last inspection we found a fault in the fire alarm had not been rectified in a timely manner. At this inspection all equipment was maintained and serviced in line with national guidelines. The service was well maintained and clean throughout.
At this unannounced inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and on going monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.
The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion.
.
At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
Why the service is rated good.
People enjoyed staying at the respite service and said they felt safe when staying there. Relatives were also complimentary about the service. Positive interactions between the people at the service and staff were observed during our inspection.
Staff received the training and support, through supervisions and team meetings, to effectively meet people’s needs. Annual observations of staff competencies were completed.
A safe system for recruiting new staff was in place. The number of staff on duty varied depending on the needs of the people staying at the respite service. More staff worked at a weekend to support people to participate in activities.
Person centred care plans and risk assessments were in place to guide staff on the support people needed and how to reduce any identified risks. Where applicable positive behaviour and epilepsy support plans were in place.
Information about people’s preferences, culture, likes and dislikes was recorded. A description of people’s daily routines was in people’s care files.
Medicines were administered as prescribed. People’s health and nutritional needs were met by the service. People told us the food was good and they had a choice of meals.
People are supported to have choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.
At our last inspection we found a fault in the fire alarm had not been rectified in a timely manner. At this inspection all equipment was maintained and serviced in line with national guidelines. The service was well maintained and clean throughout.
Emergency evacuation plans were in place for each person in their care files. We have made a recommendation that these plans are easily accessible to staff in the event of an emergency.
The registered manager had an auditing system in place to monitor the quality of the service. All incidents and accidents were reviewed to reduce the likelihood of a re-occurrence. The provider, through the area manager, also undertook quality checks and audits at the service.
Surveys were used to gain feedback from people and their relatives about the service.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.