We carried out a review of the data available to us about Pathways Care Centre on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Pathways Care Centre, you can give feedback on this service.
We found the following examples of good practice.
The registered manager had clear oversight of COVID-19 testing and vaccinations for both staff and people being supported by the service.
There was ample stock of personal protective equipment (PPE) and staff had received training in this area.
Action had been taken to familiarise people with PPE and elements forming the COVID-19 testing kit to reduce any anxiety. Information was communicated to people in their preferred way as recorded in their care plan.
Technology had been used to reduce the risk of social isolation, and to promote more effective remote meetings between staff, families and other professionals.
People were supported to receive continued safe visits from their friends and families.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. 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.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were supported by a consistent team of staff who knew them well. Checks were undertaken on staff to ensure that they were suitable. Staff received training in supporting people and were clear about what they should do if they had concerns about people’s welfare.
There were clear systems in place to support people with their medicines and staff attended regular training on the administration of medicines and areas such as health and safety. Additional training on dental care, autism and positive behaviour management was planned.
The provider had assessed the risks to people’s health and support and staff were clear about the steps they needed to take to minimise risk and promote people’s independence. Staff were well motivated and told us that they were well supported by the management of the service.
People were supported with shopping, and where required meal preparation. The service worked with a range of health professionals on promoting people’s health.
People’s support plans provided people with clear guidance on their preferences. People decided when they got up, went to bed, when they did their cleaning or participated in whatever activities they decided to do.
Staff were aware of how people communicated and any support that they used. 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.
People’s independence was promoted, and they were supported to achieve individual goals which were meaningful to them. Relatives told us that the registered manager and support staff communicated well with them and kept them up to date with any changes to their relative’s wellbeing.
There were systems in place to check on the quality of the service. This included annual satisfaction surveys to ascertain the views of people and relatives. Responses received were reviewed to identify improvements.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 22 August 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Pathways Care Centre on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
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.
Pathways Care Centre is a domiciliary service that provides people with learning disabilities the support required to enable them to live independently in their own homes. People had complex needs and received 24 hour support.
There was a registered manager in post. 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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. The registered manager worked alongside the provider to provide strong management.
People were safe because the management team and staff understood their responsibilities to recognise abuse and keep people safe. People received safe care that met their assessed needs and staff knew how to manage risk effectively.
There were sufficient staff who had been recruited safely and who had the correct skills and knowledge to provide care and support in ways that people preferred.
The provider had clear systems in place to manage medicines and people were supported to take their prescribed medicines safely.
People were supported effectively with their health needs.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) monitors the operation of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005 and we found that the provider was following the MCA code of practice.
The management team supported staff to provide care that was centred on the person and staff understood their responsibility to treat people as individuals.
People were treated with kindness and respect by staff who understood their needs and preferences. People were supported to access the local community so that they were not socially isolated.
Staff had good relationships with people who used the service and understood their needs. People’s privacy and dignity was respected.
There was an open culture and the management team supported staff to provide care that met people’s needs.
The provider had systems in place to check the quality of the service and take the views of people into account to make improvements. There were systems in place for people to raise concerns and there were opportunities available for people to give their feedback about the service.
The management team were visible and actively involved in monitoring people’s care and supporting staff. Staff were positive about their roles and their views were valued by the management team.