Background to this inspection
Updated
4 April 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 was 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 7 and 8 February 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because we were also inspecting another location operated by the provider at the same time and needed to make sure the registered manager was present.
The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector and one 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. After this inspection, the expert by experience conducted telephone interviews with people who used the service.
We had requested a provider information return (PIR). This 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 used this information to help plan for the inspection.
Before commencing the inspection we looked at the information we held about the service. This included any notifications that had been received, any complaints, whistleblowing or safeguarding information. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We also contacted health and social care professionals prior to the inspection to gather their views about the service. We also spoke with a training provider who was visiting the service during our inspection.
During the inspection we reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and medicines records. We also looked at one staff recruitment file, staff supervision, appraisal and training records, records relating to the management of the service and a wide variety of policies and procedures. We spoke with seven people who used the service and two relatives.
We spoke with the registered manager, senior team lead, a reablement officer, the head of service for prevention, access and provider services and an occupational therapist.
Updated
4 April 2018
Middlesbrough Intermediate Care Reablement Team provides assessment and rehabilitation services for people in their own homes. The service provides short term support and therapy to people to promote their daily living skills and maximise independence. People are referred to the service following a stay in Middlesbrough Intermediate Care Centre. Middlesbrough Intermediate Care Centre provides residential intensive led therapy led rehabilitation. At the time of the inspection there were four people who were using the service. Not everyone using Middlesbrough Intermediate Care Centre receives regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.
At our last inspection we rated the service as good. At this 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 service had a 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 a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People told us they felt safe when staff from the reablement team visited them at home. The registered manager and staff knew what constituted abuse and who to report it to if they suspected people were at risk. Risks to people’s safety were identified and plans were in place to minimise those risks. This included ensuring appropriate equipment was in place to support people safely whilst maintaining their independence.
Medicines were managed safely with an effective system in place. Staff competencies, around administering medication, were regularly checked. Staff received training in infection prevention and control and were provided with a plentiful supply of aprons and gloves.
Pre-employment checks were made to reduce the likelihood of employing staff who were unsuitable to work with people.
The registered manager had systems in place for reporting, recording, and monitoring significant events, incidents and accidents. The registered manager told us that lessons were learnt when they reviewed complaints and any accidents and incidents to determine any themes or trends.
People were supported by a regular team of staff who were knowledgeable about people’s likes, dislikes and preferences. A training plan was in place and staff were suitably trained and received all the support they needed to perform their roles.
If needed, staff supported people to be independent with meal preparation and cooking. People were able to choose the food they wanted to eat.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People told us they were happy with the standard of care and support they received from the reablement service. People were provided with the support they required in line with their care plans, which included meeting people’s personal care needs and supporting people to become more independent. People's care plans set realistic goals and were very regularly reviewed. Staff were respectful of people’s privacy and dignity.
People received information which detailed the complaints procedure. They told us they were confident that if they were required to make a complaint, the management would respond and resolve their issue promptly.
The registered manager was aware of the Accessible Information Standard that was introduced in 2016. The Accessible Information Standard is a law which aims to make sure people with a disability or sensory loss are given information they can understand, and the communication support they need. The registered manager told us they provided and accessed information for people that was understandable to them.
The management team demonstrated a strong commitment to delivering a high quality service to people. Staff told us they enjoyed working at the service and felt supported by the registered manager and senior staff. Quality assurance processes were in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service.