Archived: HEGARTY CARE

Updated 12 September 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 inspection took place on 15 August 2017 and was unannounced. The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. Before our inspection, we reviewed the PIR and other information we held about the home, which included notifications they had sent to us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. We also contacted the commissioners of the service, and Healthwatch to obtain their views about the service provided.

During the inspection we spoke with two people who used the service and one visiting relative for their views about the service. We also spoke with the registered manager and four care staff. We looked at all or parts of the care records of three people along with other records relevant to the running of the service. These included policies and procedures, records of staff training, the management of medicines and records of quality assurance processes.

After our visit we spoke with one relative and received feedback from a consultant psychiatrist, two social workers, a specialist learning disabilities community nurse and a GP.

Updated 12 September 2017

This unannounced inspection was carried out on 15 August 2017. Hegarty Care provides accommodation and personal care for up to four people living with either mental health or a learning disability. On the day of our inspection visit there were three people who were using the service.

The service had a registered manager in place at the time of our inspection. 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.

People who used the service and relatives we spoke with told us they felt staff provided safe care and support. Staff were trained in adult safeguarding procedures and knew what to do if they considered someone was at risk of harm or if they needed to report concerns. Risks to people’s health and safety were identified and staff had information of how to reduce these. Contingency plans were in place to support staff to provide a safe service in the event of an untoward incident affecting the service. There were sufficient staff employed to meet people’s needs and safe recruitment procedures were in place and followed. People received their medicines as prescribed and these were managed safely.

People received effective care and support from trained and competent staff, who had received an induction and appropriate ongoing training and support. People were supported to make choices and decisions for themselves. Policies and procedures were in place to guide staff in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Staff had received appropriate training and understood the processes in place for ensuring decisions were made in people’s best interests.

People were involved in menu planning and staff promoted health eating. Any dietary needs had been assessed and planed for. Staff understood people’s healthcare needs and their role in supporting them with these, and they worked well with external healthcare professionals.

People were cared for and supported by staff who respected them as individuals. Staff had caring relationships with people and respected their privacy and dignity. People were involved in planning and reviewing their own support. Information about an independent advocacy service was available for people should this support be required.

People received individualised care based on their needs, routines and preferences. Staff supported people to pursue their interests and hobbies. People knew how to raise any complaints or concerns they had and felt confident that these would be dealt with.

People, relatives, staff and external professional were positive about the leadership of the service and received opportunities to give feedback. There were systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service and make improvements when needed.