The Charterhouse

Updated 9 August 2019

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own flats, all within the larger Charterhouse Square site.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

During the inspection

We asked everyone using the service if they would like to speak with us and one person chose to do so. We also spoke with three care staff, the deputy manager, the registered manager and the nominated individual for the provider. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We viewed three people’s care planning records. We also looked at two staff recruitment records and a variety of records related to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at staff training and supervision information.

Updated 9 August 2019

About the service

The Charterhouse is a domiciliary care service currently providing personal care to five people who live in flats on the same site that also houses a residential care home.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People using the service had a care plan which contained information about the person and their care needs and requirements. As part of the care planning process, risk assessments were carried out which covered the person’s own home environment, personal care needs, moving and handling and health and safety.

Care staff were trained about how to identify types of abuse and were clear about the actions they should take if they had any concerns.

Care staff received training in the safe administration of medicines. No one using the service at present required assistance to take their medicines, however, there were robust procedures in place to ensure medicines were managed safely.

The service had safe recruitment processes in place which included obtaining references and a criminal record check prior to the care staff commencing their employment. Care staff told us that they felt supported in their role and received regular supervision.

Care staff received an in-house induction and training in core subjects that included safeguarding, moving and handling and medicine administration.

No missed or late visits had occurred and people’s support was planned in advance. People were able to request additional support when they wished to.

The service had a complaints policy which was given to people using the service. The registered manager reported that they had not received any complaints since the service began operating.

Although the service was relatively new, quality assurance questionnaires had been completed by some people. People using the service had a positive view about how the service was managed and had regular contact with care staff, as well as members of the management team.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

This service was registered with us on 23 February 2016, but did not begin to operate until late September 2018, and this was the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.