The Care Quality Commission
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Archived: CareTech Community Services Hanley DCA

9 Shirley Road, Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, ST1 3PF (01782) 208590

Provided and run by:
CareTech Community Services Limited

Important: This service is now registered at a different address - see new profile

All Inspections

5 February 2014

During a routine inspection

CareTech provides a supported living service and personal care for nine people with a learning disability living in the community.

People who used the service were encouraged to live independently with involvement in the community. One person told us, 'It's alright living here. I like watching TV with the others'.

We saw that the provider used information in an appropriate format to ensure the people who used the service were fully involved in planning their care.

The provider had safe recruitment processes in place to ensure people employed to work in the home were fit to do so.

We saw the provider had improved the training of staff. There was a system in place to determine the level of staffing required to support people and keep them safe.

The provider had put effective systems in place to monitor the quality of service and make improvements when necessary.

6 March 2013

During a routine inspection

At our last inspection on 9 September 2011 we found that the provider was not compliant with a number of outcomes. Our main concerns related to a specific property where personal care was being provided at that time. Since the last inspection the provider has undertaken not to provide care at that property and supplied us with an action plan detailing how compliance with the essential outcomes of quality and safety would be achieved.

Prior to this inspection we consulted with other agencies such as the local authority quality monitoring service and local engagement networks, no concerns were raised.

During this inspection we found that improvements had been made to most areas of the service provided.

We spoke with people that used the service and their relatives or supporters to determine if people received the support they needed. People told us that, "I want to be more independent. I have got jobs in the office and in a charity shop".

We spoke with health and social care professionals, who told us that they had seen improvements in how the service communicated and cooperated with other professionals.

We spoke with staff to determine if they received the support and training they needed to carry out their role. We found that staff felt supported but noted that some staff had not received sufficient training to meet people's needs.

The provider had improved how it monitored the service to ensure that people received good quality standards.

14 July 2011

During an inspection in response to concerns

We visited two separate locations in this supported living service. The locations are private tenancies but for the purposes of this report they will be referred to as Stoke1 and Burton1. The comments and observations for each location are as folows:

Stoke1

A person said "I like living here I do lots of things I like and the staff help me".

We were able to talk with a person using the service about their care and treatment and they told us they understood fully their care and treatment plans and had given their consent.

There was a relaxed atmosphere at Stoke1 and very positive engagement between people using the service and staff. Two people told us that they enjoyed living there, they were involved in making choices about daily activities and future plans. They have regular holidays, one person goes abroad and was planning their latest holiday abroad, they said "I go on holiday every year and staff come with me to help and support me"

Another person told us "I like living here, yes I do feel safe

here"

A person using the service showed us their medication and records that were stored in their bedroom in a locked cabinet. They understood why they needed to take medication.

A person using the service said "I like the staff, we get on well together even when I don't do as they want me to".

Burton1

We observed a person with complex needs and challenging behaviours being dealt with professionally when they became anxious. They were spoken to calmly, directly and engaged in a professional way. This demonstrated a good level of understanding of the persons needs, how to interact appropriately and this appeared reciprocal.

College staff where two people using the service have attended regularly told us "There has been a deterioration in both (people) since September 2010. The only consistency has been school (college). We are concerned about the lack of care and opportunities available to them".

The people attend a local college with staff support. The college reported "We have tried to work closely with the service in providing supportive placements but the service does not offer anything to either resident"