24 June 2019
During a routine inspection
The Charterhouse is a domiciliary care service currently providing personal care to five people who live in flats on the same site that also houses a residential care home.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People using the service had a care plan which contained information about the person and their care needs and requirements. As part of the care planning process, risk assessments were carried out which covered the person’s own home environment, personal care needs, moving and handling and health and safety.
Care staff were trained about how to identify types of abuse and were clear about the actions they should take if they had any concerns.
Care staff received training in the safe administration of medicines. No one using the service at present required assistance to take their medicines, however, there were robust procedures in place to ensure medicines were managed safely.
The service had safe recruitment processes in place which included obtaining references and a criminal record check prior to the care staff commencing their employment. Care staff told us that they felt supported in their role and received regular supervision.
Care staff received an in-house induction and training in core subjects that included safeguarding, moving and handling and medicine administration.
No missed or late visits had occurred and people’s support was planned in advance. People were able to request additional support when they wished to.
The service had a complaints policy which was given to people using the service. The registered manager reported that they had not received any complaints since the service began operating.
Although the service was relatively new, quality assurance questionnaires had been completed by some people. People using the service had a positive view about how the service was managed and had regular contact with care staff, as well as members of the management team.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
This service was registered with us on 23 February 2016, but did not begin to operate until late September 2018, and this was the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.