Archived: Thorpe Carers

We did not speak with people who used the service at this inspection. Please see previous reports for further details of what people told us about the service.

At this inspection we found the service had made significant improvements.

We looked at the care plans and records of four people who used the service. We found people's needs were assessed and care was planned and delivered in line with their individual plan.

Systems were now in place to ensure staff received appropriate professional development.

The provider now had an effective quality assurance system in place.

We spoke with one person who used the service and asked them about their care and support. They were positive about their experience. We spoke with people using the service in more detail at our previous inspections. Please see these reports for further details.

At this inspection we found the service had completed 7 new care plans. However, not all people who used the service had an appropriate care plan in place that detailed how their care should be provided.

We found that staff were now aware of the appropriate reporting processes should an allegation of abuse be raised, ensuring people were protected at all times. The service had also made significant improvements to its recruitment processes.

Staff had begun to receive training in topics linked to the care and welfare of people who used the service but there were still gaps in essential training. In addition, meetings with staff were now being recorded and plans were in place to commence formal supervision of staff from January 2013.

We found that the service had begun to make improvements to its quality assurance and monitoring system but this had not yet been implemented.

At this inspection we found that that the service had telephoned most people to carry out a 'review of practice' and produced new care plans. We found care plans still lacked sufficient detail to say how individual people should be cared for. Staff and managers remained unsure of the process involved in reporting abuse to external agencies.

The service had made improvements in its recruitment processes, ensuring that appropriate checks were carried out. However, we found one carer was working unsupervised before a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) disclosure had been returned. We found that staff had received an appraisal but the service had not always ensured that staff were supported to deliver appropriate care.

We found that the service had begun to make improvements to its quality assurance and monitoring system but this was not always effective. The service had a number of plans to improve this but how this was going to be achieved and the timescales involved were unclear and not recorded.

We are following up areas of non-compliance identified during this inspection. We will report on any action when it is complete.