Archived: Ben Russell Carers Limited

Updated 26 April 2016

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 was announced and took place on 21 March 2016. The registered manager was given 48 ‘hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure the registered manager would be available for the inspection.

The service had been registered in 2011 but had moved its office location in March 2015. This was the first inspection at their new address. The last inspection at the previous location in January 2014 had found the provider had met all the standards inspected. The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector.

Before the inspection, we reviewed information we held on our systems. This included whether any statutory notifications had been submitted to us. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to tell us about by law.

Ben Russell Carers Limited provides care and support to one person in their own home. The service was set up specifically to meet this person's needs. We visited the person at their home and spoke with two close relatives to discuss the person’s care package.

We spoke with eight staff, including the registered manager and nominated individual. We looked at two staff recruitment records, and training and quality monitoring records.

We sought feedback from five health and social care professionals of the service and received a response from two of them.

We looked at care and medicine administration records which related to the person’s individual care. We looked at two staff recruitment records. We reviewed records which related to the running of the service, including staff schedules, supervision and training, records and quality monitoring audits.

Updated 26 April 2016

This inspection was announced and took place on 21 March 2016. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure the registered manager would be available for the inspection.

The service had been registered in 2011 but had moved its office location in March 2015. This was the first inspection at their new address. The last inspection at the previous location in January 2014 had found the provider had met all the standards inspected. Ben Russell Carers Limited provides care and support to one person in their own home. The service was set up specifically to meet this person's needs. The inspection team consisted of one adult social care inspector.

When we visited there was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.

Health and social care professionals were very complimentary about the provider. For example one health professional said, “I have consistently been impressed by the quality and professionalism of the care provided to (person). This is a well organised team, with good leadership.”

Throughout the inspection there was evidence that the registered manager and staff delivered care to the highest standards, often undertaking additional tasks to ensure the person was protected and had a good quality of life.

There were sufficient numbers of staff who had a clear knowledge and understanding of their personal needs, likes and dislikes. We observed that the staff took the time to talk with the person throughout our visit. They had developed a relationship which was caring and supportive. They offered care that was kind and compassionate; they respected their privacy and dignity.

Staff had been recruited safely and their induction involved both training and shadowing more experienced staff. Staff were not allowed to work until they, the registered manager and the person said they were happy for them to work with them. Staff had received training and understood their roles in respect of safeguarding vulnerable adults. They had also received training to support their understanding of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and the impact this could have on the person they supported.

The person was kept safe by staff who had been trained and supervised. The person and their relatives confirmed they had confidence in staff and the management and were involved in developing their care plans and a regular review took place. Staff spoke positively about the management and teamwork and the open culture at the service. There was a high staff morale that was well led.

Care files were computerised and personalised to reflect the person’s personal preferences. Care plans identified their needs and were very detailed to guide care staff to ensure they received safe care. There was a small staff team with a low staff turnover which meant the person’s care to ensure they received the right care and treatment. There were safe procedures and systems in place to ensure medicines were administered safely.

The registered manager had a quality monitoring system at the service. They actively sought the views of the person, their close relatives and staff. There was a complaints procedure in place; however no complaints had been made.