Carers Break Community Interest Company

Updated 20 October 2017

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.

This announced inspection took place on 11 and 18 September 2017. One inspector and an Expert by Experience undertook the inspection. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. We reviewed information we held about the service such as notifications of incidents. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

During the inspection we went to the provider’s office and spoke with the registered manager and the nominated individual. We had contact with 17 staff by email or telephone. We looked at three records relating to the care of individuals, three staff recruitment files, staff duty rosters, staff training records and records relating to the running of the service.

We visited three people in their own homes. We also spoke on the telephone with a further eight people or their relatives, and twelve staff members. We also had contact with four social or healthcare professionals. We also carried out a postal survey. We sent surveys to people who used the service or had other experience of it and received responses from ten people; 12 staff, two relatives and two community professionals.

Updated 20 October 2017

Carers Break provides care and support to predominantly older people in their own homes. The service offers sessions of a minimum of two hour care sessions during the day, and a minimum of nine hour sessions at night. The majority of people who used the service, at the time of the inspection, were elderly, although the service also provided services to younger adults. The service provides help with people’s personal care needs throughout Cornwall. People who used the service may be using it on a short term and /or short notice basis for example one night; or using it on an ongoing basis.

At the time of our inspection 20 people were using the service on an on- going basis. These services were funded either privately, through Cornwall Council or NHS funding.

There was a registered manager in post who was responsible for the day-to-day running of 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We carried out this announced inspection on 11 and 18 September 2017. The inspection was announced in line with the Care Quality Commission’s approach to inspecting care agencies. The service was last inspected in June 2015 when it was rated as ‘good’. At this inspection we found the service remained Good

People were positive about the support they received from the service. They said the service was, “Excellent,” “I am very happy with them,” and “I don’t think you would find a better service…I highly recommend them.” A relative told us: “I am very happy with the service…the carers they provide are excellent.” An external professional told us: “Their commitment to providing excellent care to their clients, predominantly through the night hours is evident.” A staff member said, “The real difference with Carers Break is because of the two hour minimum in place so we are able to make sure that there is time for the clients’ needs.”

People told us they felt safe. Staff had received training in how to recognise and report abuse. All were clear about how to report any concerns and were confident that any allegations made would be fully investigated to help ensure people were protected.

There were enough suitably qualified staff available to meet people’s needs. The service was flexible and responded to people’s changing needs. People told us they had a team of regular staff and mostly their visits were at the agreed times. People told us they had never experienced a missed care visit.

People received care from staff who knew them well, and had the knowledge and skills to meet their needs. People and their relatives spoke very highly of staff and typical comments included; “The carers are exceptional, fully aware of responsibilities and sensitivities,” “They are helpful and friendly,” and, “I have been struck by their attitude and integrity.”

Staff were knowledgeable about the people they cared for and knew how to recognise if people’s needs changed.

Staff were aware of people’s preferences and interests, as well as their health and support needs, which enabled them to provide a personalised service. Staff were kind and compassionate and treated people with dignity and respect.

The management had a clear understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and how to make sure people who did not have the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves had their legal rights protected.

Staff told us there was good communication with the management of the service. People said the office staff were “Very approachable,” Management were described as, “Very approachable, supportive and very helpful.” A member of staff said, “In my opinion they have the right attitude towards their staff and they provide excellent care for their clients. Time to care is their ethos and this is evident by the way they manage the company.”

There were effective quality assurance systems in place. The service had an effective management team, and Care Quality Commission registration, and notification requirements had been complied with.