Archived: Ryedale Special Families

Updated 14 May 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.

The inspection took place on 31 March 2016 and was announced. The provider was given 24 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

The inspection team consisted of one adult social care 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.

Before the inspection we reviewed the information we had about the service including notifications and the service’s inspection and registration history. The inspector visited the agency office on 31 March 2016 and spoke with the registered manager, one of the trustees and members of staff who were available. The expert by experience carried out telephone interviews with parents and the inspector also spoke with a healthcare professional. We also requested and received written feedback from two members of staff, a teacher and a social care professional

During the site visit the inspector reviewed records relating to the running of the agency including staff recruitment and training files for four staff, risk assessments, and staff rota. We observed the interaction between one young person who was present in the office and staff members.

Updated 14 May 2016

This inspection took place on 31 March 2016. We gave short notice of the inspection because the service provides domiciliary care and we wanted to be sure people would be available to speak with us.

At the last inspection on 5 September 2014 the service was meeting the regulation that was assessed.

Ryedale Special Families is an organisation registered as a domiciliary care agency to provide personal care. The organisation provides support for children and young people in their own homes and out in the community.

There was a registered manager in post. 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 found staff were robustly recruited, trained in topics relevant to the service and were in sufficient numbers to meet children and young people’s needs. Staff were recruited and trained according to the individual child’s care package and the range of activities being offered.

Young people were encouraged to help with recruitment and were actively involved in the development of the service. Staff were matched to work with children and young people wherever possible and the service regularly asked parents for feedback to ensure the arrangement was working well. The matching process ensured that staff got to know the child well, were properly trained and had the appropriate skills to meet their needs.

Only those staff who were trained to administer medicines supported children who might require such assistance. In these cases there were protocols around the use of medicines and when they could be administered.

Staff were aware of the Mental Capacity Act (2005), which would be applicable for some of the older children. However, staff were not responsible for the general welfare of the children or the younger people who lived with their parents or guardians. Staff had been trained in child protection and safeguarding topics and the parents we spoke with said staff followed safe practice and could be trusted.

The care service operated out of an adapted residential building and there were rooms for children’s play, and a television room that could also be used for private conversations. Plans of care were individual to each child and these were reviewed to ensure staff were up to date with any changes. Staff completed a record either in the child’s own home or on return from any activities and these were forwarded to the children’s specialist team to ensure everyone knew what the children had done.

Children were provided with lots of different activities, youth clubs and outings. The outings were developed over time and were dependent upon how much the child enjoyed and participated in them. Parents told us they felt able to raise any concerns but did not have any. They said the registered manager and the staff team were very approachable.

Effective management systems were in place for the registered manager to analyse incidents, accidents and compliments to improve the service or minimise risks. There had not been any concerns or incidents since the last inspection. Policies and procedures were updated and the registered manager used audits to help them with their checks on the quality of the service.