Archived: Yew Tree Cottage Domiciliary Care

Updated 12 July 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 checked 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 13 and 14 June 2017 and was announced. We told the provider the day before our visit that we would be coming. We did this because the registered manager is sometimes out of the office at other services that they manage and we needed to be sure they would be present for our inspection. One inspector carried out this inspection.

As part of the inspection, we reviewed the information available to us about the service, such as correspondence we had received since our last inspection. We also contacted stakeholders, such as Healthwatch, commissioners and healthcare professionals for their views of the service.

During our inspection we spoke with the five people who received care from the service, the registered manager and one support worker. We also spoke by telephone with three people’s relatives and three social care professionals who have regular contact with the service. In addition, we checked three people’s care records and records relating to how the service is run and monitored, such as audits, training and health and safety records.

Updated 12 July 2017

Yew Tree Cottage Domiciliary Care provides personal care and support for people living with learning difficulties in their own homes.

At the last inspection, on 14 and 17 July 2015, the service was rated as good overall. However, as a result of our findings we asked the provider to make improvements to the processes where people did not have the mental capacity to make decisions for themselves. We received an action plan detailing how and when the required improvements would be made.

This announced inspection took place on 13 and 14 June 2017. At this inspection we found the provider had made the improvements they had described to us and the service remained good. At the time of this inspection there were five people receiving the service. They all lived together in the same property.

People felt safe receiving the service. Systems were in place to manage risks appropriately and to protect people from avoidable harm. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs and staff recruitment procedures ensured that only suitable staff were employed. Medicines were managed safely and people received their medicines as prescribed. Where it was safe to do so, staff supported people to manage their own medicines.

Staff were well trained and well supported. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People’s nutritional needs were met and people were supported to have enough to eat and drink. People were supported to manage their health and wellbeing and to access a range of healthcare professionals.

Staff were caring and respectful towards people. They respected people’s privacy and dignity. People were involved in planning and reviewing their care. People were referred for advocacy when this was required.

People’s care plans were personalised and gave staff clear guidance on meeting each person’s needs. Staff supported people to be as independent as possible and access a range of hobbies and activities, including work placements. People and their relatives knew who to speak to if they were not happy with the service and were confident that the registered manager and staff would listen to them.

The registered manager was approachable. People, relatives and staff were encouraged to put forward their views about the service. The registered manager monitored the quality of the care by a range of audits that they regularly carried out.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.