Archived: Devon Enhanced Recovery Service

Updated 31 October 2014

We visited the service on 7 July 2014.  We returned to speak to further staff members on 28 July 2014.  The inspection team consisted of an inspector.

At the time of our visit there were six people receiving personal care from Devon Enhanced Recovery Service.  We spoke with three people, four members of staff and the registered manager.  We reviewed three people’s care files, three staff files, staff training records, a selection of policies and procedures and records relating to the management of the service.

We reviewed the Provider Information Record (PIR) and previous inspection reports before the inspection. The PIR was information given to us by the provider. This enabled us to ensure we were addressing potential areas of concern.  At our last inspection in November 2013 we did not identify any concerns.  Following our visit we sought feedback from commissioners and health care professionals to obtain their views of the service provided to people.  We received feedback from six professionals.

This report was written during the testing phase of our new approach to regulating adult social care services. After this testing phase, inspection of consent to care and treatment, restraint, and practice under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) was moved from the key question ‘Is the service safe?’ to ‘Is the service effective?'

The ratings for this location were awarded in October 2014. They can be directly compared with any other service we have rated since then, including in relation to consent, restraint, and the MCA under the ‘Effective’ section. Our written findings in relation to these topics, however, can be read in the ‘Is the service safe’ sections of this report.’

Updated 31 October 2014

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 and to pilot a new inspection process being introduced by CQC which looks at the overall quality of the service.  This inspection was announced at short notice.

At our last inspection in November 2013 we did not identify any concerns in the areas in which we looked.

Devon Enhanced Recovery Service provides personal care and specialist mental health support to people living in their own homes after a hospital stay. People are able to access the service only by referral from Devon Partnership NHS Trust as part of their discharge planning from hospital. The service also forms part of a wider supported living service run by the National Schizophrenia Fellowship 'Rethink' in Exeter.   

When we visited 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 and has a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law; as does the provider. 

People confirmed that they felt safe and supported by staff.  Safety planning formed a daily part of people’s support and them taking ownership and feeling empowered to take control and maintain independence.  The service and its staff team had an enabling attitude towards informed risk taking and worked closely with other health and social care professionals to ensure people received the right support in line with their specific needs.  People could also choose which staff supported them based on the specific skills they brought to the organisation, such as a particular interest or psychological therapy. 

Staff understood the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and how it applied to their practice.  This ensured that people were assessed appropriately and safeguarded from the risk of their liberties being deprived unlawfully.  We found the service to be meeting the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (2005).   

Staff informed us that they received a range of training and regular supervision which enabled them to feel confident in meeting people’s needs and recognising changes in people’s health.  .

People told us that staff were caring and supportive.  Staff spoke confidently about people’s specific needs and how they liked to be supported.  Through our observations and discussions, we found that staff were motivated and inspired to offer care that was kind and compassionate.

There were regular opportunities for people and people that matter to them to raise issues, concerns and compliments through on-going discussions with them by staff and members of the management team. 

Devon Enhanced Recovery Service had achieved and were working towards recognised schemes to continually improve the quality of service people received and for people to feel empowered and able to voice their opinions. 

The registered manager worked proactively with other organisations to ensure they were following best practice.  They strived for excellence through consultation with others, research and reflective practice by means of regular supervision with other professionals and members of the organisation’s management team.