Archived: Galax Care

We previously carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of this service on 10 February 2016. A breach of legal requirements was found. The service was rated Good overall and Requires Improvement in the ‘Responsive’ domain. After the comprehensive inspection, the provider wrote to us to say what actions they would take to meet legal requirements in relation to the breach of Regulation 17 of the Health and Social Care Act Regulated Activities Regulations 2014, Good Governance.

We undertook this focused inspection to check that they had followed their plan and to confirm that they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to those requirements. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Galax Care on our website at www.cqc.org.uk. We found on this inspection the provider had taken all the steps to make the necessary improvements.

There was a registered manager in post who was present during our inspection. 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.

The provider had implemented an electronic care planning system since our last inspection. This gave staff access to electronic information they needed to meet people’s needs, including receiving regular up to date information. Care plans were personalised and detailed daily routines specific to each person. Care plans contained information about the person’s preferences, likes, dislikes and what was important to them.

People were involved in planning their care and support. People met with the care coordinator prior to their care package commencing with the agency. At this meeting people had the opportunity to discuss what care and support they wished to receive and how they wished to receive it.

Where required people were supported to maintain their independence and community involvement. This included supporting people to follow their interests and take part in social activities.

The service had a complaints procedure in place setting out how complaints could be made and how they would be handled. The registered manager investigated complaints and concerns in a timely manner.

The inspection took place on 10 February 2016. This was an announced inspection which meant the provider knew two days before we would be visiting. This was because the location provides a supported living service. We wanted to make sure the manager would be available to support our inspection, or someone who could act on their behalf. At our last inspection in February 2014 we did not identify any concerns about the care being provided.

A registered manager was employed by the service. The registered manager was not present during our inspection. The day to day running of the service is overseen by a recently appointed manager who is applying to become the 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 legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We looked at three care plans and found some guidance did not always identify how care and support should be provided. This meant people were at risk of not receiving the care and support in the way they needed.

The focus of the service was to help people live fulfilling lives as independently as they were able. Staff and the manager had detailed knowledge of people’s needs and preferences to support them to be able to do this.

Relatives spoke positively about the care and support offered by Galax care. They said they could approach the provider and manager at any time to make suggestions or raise any concerns they may have.

People were protected against the risks of potential abuse or harm. Staff had the knowledge to be able to identify safeguarding concerns and acted on these to keep people safe.

People were supported by sufficient staff with the right skills and knowledge to meet their individual needs. Day to day staffing levels were varied and set to meet people’s needs. Staff were well trained and supported to provide good quality care and support.

There were safe medicine administration systems in place and people received their medicines as prescribed.

People were supported to make choices and decisions about the care they wished to receive. The provider, manager and staff had an understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

The provider, registered manager and manager had systems in place to monitor the quality of service provided. People and their relatives were encouraged to comment on how they felt about the service provided.

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The person being supported by Galax Care had complex needs and was not able to fully tell us what they thought about the support and care provided. During our visit to their home they told us that they had been out for a walk with staff and that their favourite food was sausages.

Staff were able to explain how they were responsive to the needs of the individual in a respectful and supportive way that was in keeping with their care and support plan.

People who used the service were protected from the risk of abuse. The provider had processes in place should they need to make a report when it was suspected that abuse had occurred or was at risk of occurring.

Appropriate recruitment checks were carried out and recorded. New staff members completed an induction and attended core skills training. Staff we spoke with told us that they had been through an application and interview process before starting in their role.