The Next Step Trust - Respite

Updated 14 September 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 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.

Before the inspection we reviewed all the information we held about the service including statutory notifications and contacted relevant agencies. The provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR) in April 2018. We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

This comprehensive inspection took place on 23 and 25 July 2018 and was announced. We told the provider we would be visiting because it is small and we needed to make sure someone would be at the service. One adult social care inspector carried out the inspection. On both days of the inspection we visited the service and spoke with staff and members of the management team. On 23 July we met one person who was going home after a short stay and we visited a person at their day care centre who had recently stayed at the service. We also spoke with one relative on the telephone. On 25 July we met another person who was commencing a respite stay. On 26 July we spoke with two relatives on the telephone.

During the inspection we observed care being provided to two people, and spoke with one person who used the service, three relatives, two support workers, the respite lead, health and safety officer and registered manager. We gained limited information from some people who used the service about their experience because of the different ways they communicated.

We spent time looking at documents and records that related to people’s care and the management of the service. We reviewed two people’s support plans. We did not use the formal observation method used during inspections (Short Observational Framework for Inspection- SOFI) because people sat individually so this could have infringed on their personal space. In the report we have used the term ‘carer’ to describe people who provide the main care when people are living at home

Updated 14 September 2018

The Next Step Trust- Respite provides a service for up to three people with learning disabilities. At the time of the inspection one person was going home after a short stay and another person was commencing a short stay. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided and both were looked at during this inspection. This was the first inspection.

The inspection took place on 23 and 25 July 2018 and was announced which meant the provider knew we would be visiting.

A registered manager was 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.

Staff were confident people were safe and if any concerns were reported to the management team, they would respond promptly and appropriately. The provider had systems in place to manage risk to people and the environment although we identified some potential hazards. Swift action was taken when we brought these to their attention. The registered manager revised their health and safety checklist to make sure similar issues would not arise in future.

Staffing arrangements were appropriate and ensured people received care from a consistent workforce. Medicines were usually well managed; the provider agreed to introduce additional guidance around assisting people with non-prescribed medicines and competency assessments for staff to make sure they understood how to administer medicines safely.

Staff told us they felt well supported and received good quality training. All staff had received an introduction to the service to ensure they understood what was expected when they supported people during their respite stay. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. People received appropriate support to make sure their nutritional and health needs were met during their stay. People stayed in a pleasant and spacious environment; equipment was in place to make sure they were comfortable and their needs were met.

People who used the service and relatives told us the service was caring. We observed people were treated with kindness and respect. Staff who worked at the respite service also worked at the provider’s day service, and people usually used both services. This meant staff knew people well. Staff told us they enjoyed working at the respite service and were confident people received high quality, person centred care. They understood what constituted good care, for example, promoting independence and ensuring people had privacy during personal care.

People received person centred care. There was guidance which ensured staff knew how to provide care that met people’s needs. People who used the service and relatives told us they would be comfortable raising concerns with the management team.

The service was well led. The registered manager was knowledgeable about the day to day running of the service as well as their overall legal responsibilities. They were supported by an effective management team. The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and people were encouraged to share their views to help drive improvement.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.