Archived: Medworth

The people we spoke with told us they were involved in planning and reviewing their care. One person told us: 'The manager sits with me and reviews my care with me. I am in total agreement with my care.'

We also spoke with four people. All spoke with high regard for the quality of care and kindness displayed by the staff. One person told us: 'The manager came to see me before I started having care. We discussed all my needs and what type of care I would like.'

A carer told us: 'The staff always check the equipment before they use it and clean it afterwards.' We spoke with a number of staff and asked them what action they took if they found a piece of equipment to be faulty. Their responses indicted to us they reported the fault immediately to their manager and the person using the service.

We asked the staff we spoke with to describe to us how supported they felt. Their responses indicated they were very well supported. One member of staff told us: 'I have regular weekly meetings with my manager. I have excellent peer and managerial support.'

We spoke with a number of staff and asked them to detail how their practices were monitored. They all explained that they had regular unannounced spot checks, which included observation of care and review of care records and documentation.

We found evidence in all the care records that a pre assessment of care had been carried out and a personalised care plan developed from the assessment. The registered manager told us that care needs were reviewed on a quarterly basis or earlier when triggers indicated there was a status change.

We saw evidence in the files that two references, two forms of identification and a CRB check had been received. All appropriate checks were undertaken before staff began their employment.

We saw evidence of a spot check carried out on 04 February 2013. We also saw evidence that the people who used the service were asked for their views. We saw people were asked if they were happy with their care, what changes they felt they needed and what action was taken. We also saw that these conversations were documented and signed by the person who used the service.

All the people we spoke with they were involved in their care and their privacy and dignity was respected. One carer told us: 'The manager, social worker and the person I care for sat together at the beginning and agreed what was needed. They were very much involved in their care.' However when we viewed the record for this person and found the pre assessment was not always documented and the daily discussion with the people who used the service was not recorded.

People's needs were assessed and care and treatment was planned and delivered in line with their individual care plan. However review and monitoring of risk assessments was not recorded.

All the people we spoke with felt safe one person who used the service told us: 'The service is A1 and I always feel safe'.

There were effective recruitment and selection processes in place and appropriate checks were undertaken. However the staff files did not demonstrate the recruitment process had been followed.

We saw insufficient evidence of a robust risk management system, audit or quality monitoring programme