Archived: St Giles

Updated 21 March 2017

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 26th and 27th January 2017 and was completed by one inspector and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service for younger adults who are often out during the day; we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

Prior to this inspection we reviewed information we held about the service including statutory notifications that had been submitted. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. We also looked at the Provider Information Return (PIR) which the provider had completed detailing information about their service and any planned improvements.

During our inspection visit, we observed the interactions between staff and four people who were receiving care and support in their own homes.

As part of the inspection process we spoke to the registered manager and four members of staff. We also spoke with four people and two relatives of people who used the service.

We reviewed four people's care plans, to see how their care and support was planned and delivered. We looked at other records related to people's care and how the service operated to check how information was gathered to improve the service. This included medicine records, the provider's quality assurance audits, satisfaction surveys and records of complaints. We also looked at four staff files, the training programme and staff supervision and appraisal records.

Updated 21 March 2017

This inspection took place on 26th and 27th January and was announced. St. Giles is part of Genesis Housing and provides a supported living service to people with a learning disability and/or mental health needs. At the time of inspection 30 people were being supported by the service to live in their own homes across three sites where Genesis provided housing.

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 legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The registered manager was supported by a management team which was made up of the service manager and two service co-ordinators, between them they provided support to staff and oversight and management of the service at all three sites.

Staff were trained in how to protect people from abuse and harm. They knew how to recognise signs of abuse and how to report any concerns and use the whistleblowing procedure if necessary.

Risks to people were well managed as staff knew the people they cared for and were provided with clear guidance to reduce identified risks and protect people from harm.

There were enough staff to meet the level of commissioned support that people received as agency staff were used to make up the shortfall. The service was continuing to recruit new staff to achieve a stable and consistent workforce.

Safe recruitment practices were adhered to. All staff were subject to a probation period and to disciplinary procedures if they did not meet the required standards of practice.

Medicines were managed safely. Staff were trained in the safe administration of medicines and maintained relevant records that were accurate.

The provider ensured that staff received regular training in mandatory subjects as well as some specialist training, specific to the needs of people using the service. We have made a recommendation about staff training on the subject of learning disability to ensure that all staff have the knowledge and skills to meet people’s needs in an effective and individualised way.

Staff were supported by the management team through supervision and appraisal to maintain and develop their professional skills.

Consent to care and treatment was sought from people in line with current legislation. All staff and management were trained in the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005. The management understood their responsibilities in identifying where there is, or is likely to be, a deprivation of liberty that must be authorised by the Court of Protection.

People were supported to have enough to eat and drink that met their individual preferences and any health needs and promoted choice and independence.

Staff assisted people to attend healthcare appointments and liaised with their GP and other healthcare professionals as required to help people maintain their health and wellbeing.

People were treated with kindness and compassion and their privacy and dignity was

respected and maintained at all times.

Individual needs were assessed and care plans gave clear guidance on how people were to be supported. Care was personalised so that each person’s support plan reflected their views and preferences.

The service supported people to access educational, work and leisure activities of their own choosing as well as being able to develop their own independent living skills.

There was an effective complaints procedure in place and the service responded to complaints appropriately.

Staff and people were included in the day to day running of the service.

Quality assurance systems were in place to monitor the organisation’s safety and effectiveness.

We made a recommendation that the provider explore ways to obtain meaningful feedback from people who use the service to drive improvements.