12 May 2014
During a routine inspection
Below is a summary of what we found. If you want to see the evidence supporting our summary please read our full report.
Is the service safe?
We inspected this service previously on 10 December 2013 and identified improvements were required in the quality of the service's records. There were concerns that some people's care records were not accurate. We found the provider had made changes since our previous inspection and improvements had been made in this area.
We saw people's care records accurately reflected their care needs. We saw people had risk assessments in place that made sure risks to their health were managed. We found people's care records were regularly evaluated and reviewed by senior staff.
We found staff followed the provider's infection control policy. People told us staff maintained good standards of hygiene when they supported them in their homes.
We found evidence learning took place from incidents and that following investigations, appropriate changes were implemented to improve the service.
Is the service effective?
People told us the care they received met their needs. They told us they had been involved in planning the care they received.
Staff we spoke with had a clear understanding of the needs of the people they supported and what they told us was reflected in people's support plans.
Is the service caring?
We spoke with four people who used the service and they were all positive about the staff who supported them. For example people told us; 'Very nice staff', 'They really are genuine' and 'The staff are lovely.'
Staff we spoke with were positive about their role as care workers.
Is the service responsive?
We found people were asked for their views about their care and these were acted on. We saw the provider had sent out a quality assurance survey to people who used the service in April 2014. The results we saw from the survey were good.
People told us they felt comfortable to raise any issues they had about the service. We found issues were responded to by the manager in a timely way.
People told us the service was flexible and they could contact the care office at short notice and request changes to their care.
People told us care staff noticed when their needs changed and took action.
Is the service well led?
We found the service had an effective quality assurance system in place and any identified actions had led to improvements in the service people received.
We found evidence improvements had been made to the service following investigation of concerns.