Background to this inspection
Updated
29 October 2015
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 look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014
This inspection took place on the 9 July 2015 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice in order to ensure that the registered manager would be available to assist us with the inspection. The inspection team consisted of two inspectors and this announced inspection was conducted on 9 July 2015.
On this occasion we did not ask the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) before our visit. A PIR is a document that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and any improvements they plan to make.
During our inspection we spoke with the registered manager, care co-ordinator, and two staff members of the care team, and 2 other care staff by telephone. We spoke by telephone with four relatives of people who used the service and one person who used the service. We reviewed a sample of four people’s care plans and checked the records of how they were cared for and supported. We reviewed the staff handbook, which is a guide for staff about the providers policies and procedures and four staff files to check how staff were recruited, trained and supported to deliver care and support appropriate to each person’s needs. We also reviewed complaints, accident and incident records, and a survey of people who used the service.
Updated
29 October 2015
Rochdale and Oldham Crossroads Caring for Carers is registered to provide care to adults and children within their own homes or out in their local community. The service provides support for people who care for a relative or friend to enable these people to have a short break from their caring responsibilities. At the time of our inspection approximately 200 people used the service.
We undertook an announced inspection of Rochdale and Oldham Crossroads Caring for Carers on 7 July 2015. The inspection was announced 48 hours prior to our visit to ensure the office was open.
The service had 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.
Recruitment processes were robust to protect people who used the service against receiving support from staff who were unsuitable. Staff received regular training and were knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities. Staff had completed or were working towards a nationally recognised qualification. The needs of people who used the service were matched with staff who had the relevant skills and experience.
Care plans were in place to reflect the needs of people who used the service. Care plans captured how people wanted to be supported, and recorded their likes and dislikes. People were involved in decision making throughout the initial assessment and during reviews.
Staff supported people to access the community and attend health appointments.
People who used the service were also able to raise any concerns if they wished with the management team.
The registered manager told us that she met with people who used the service annually to formally review the care package. However, the registered manager said she encouraged people to contact her at any time if they needed to discuss the care and support provided.
We saw the manager analysed incidents, accidents and compliments to improve the service or minimise risk. Policies and procedures were in place for the safe management of medicines.