This inspection took place on 21 October 2015 and 2 November 2015. The inspection was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service incorporating supported living services for adults with learning difficulties and we needed to be sure that someone would be in. At the last inspection carried out in 09 January 2014 under previous inspection method, the provider was deemed compliant.
Pharos Supported Services provides personal care and support to people living in their own homes at Pedmore Walk. At the time of inspection, there were four people living in self-contained individual flats. Only one person received the regulated activity of personal care. The site had a shared lounge area in the form of a conservatory, a sleep in room for staff and a staff office on the ground floor.
Pharos Supported Services required a registered manager to be overseeing the service. 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. At the time of this inspection, there was no registered manager in post. Although the provider had employed a manager, the provider had not yet submitted their application for registration of the manager with the CQC.
The provider had effective systems in place that protected people from abuse and avoidable harm. Staff undertook risk assessments with the input of healthcare professionals. The manager had a clear understanding of what to do if potential abuse was reported to them.
Staff were recruited using thorough procedures and only after appropriate checks were completed. The service had appropriate levels of staff based on people’s assessed needs. People received care and support from staff that had the skills and knowledge to carry out their roles effectively.
Staff ensured that consent was obtained and people were involved in their day-to-day care. Appropriate actions were taken to ensure any restrictions in place on people’s movements were done in their best interests.
Our review of records and discussion with the provider indicated people, at the time of inspection, received their medicines as prescribed. People, were supported by staff, to access healthcare professionals when they needed to see them.
Staff treated people in a caring way and took account of their choices in the way they wanted support provided. Staff treated people with kindness and respect and maintained people’s dignity and privacy.
People who responded to the CQC survey felt that staff listened to and involved them in how they wanted to receive support. People also told us that staff responded quickly when they asked for support.
Staff we spoke with recognised the importance of knowing people’s routines, so that, people received personalised support.
Staff met with people regularly, took the time to get to know them and supported them in undertaking activities according to their hobbies and interests.
Systems were in place that supported and encouraged people to share their views of the service they received. However, we did not see that the views of relatives had been sought.
The provider had systems to monitor the quality of the service to help them in their efforts for improvements in quality of the service received by people but these were not always effective.