Archived: Enablement Service

Updated 1 May 2018

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 7 and 14 March 2018 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ because the location provides a service to people in their own homes and we needed to be sure staff would be available at the location to speak with us. Two inspectors carried out this inspection. At the previous inspection in January 2017, the service was rated as “Requires Improvement” overall.

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. We also reviewed the evidence we already held about the service before the inspection including notifications the provider had sent us. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We also contacted the local authority’s commissioners to obtain their view about the service.

During the inspection we spoke with the nominated individual, registered manager deputy manager, a senior enabler, one enabler and four people who used the service.

We reviewed six people’s care records including risk assessments and care plans and four staff records including recruitment, training and supervision. We also looked at records relating to how the service was managed including policies and procedures, complaints and compliments and quality assurance documentation.

After the inspection we spoke to three more enablers.

Updated 1 May 2018

Enablement Service provides up to six weeks of support to adults in their own homes to support them to regain their independence or to learn new skills. At the time of our inspection there were around 37 people using Enablement Service. Due to the nature of the support provided the number of people receiving a service varied from week to week. Not everyone using Enablement Service receives a regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.

This inspection took place on 7 and 14 March 2018 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ because the location provides a service to people in their own homes and we needed to be sure staff would be available at the location to speak with us. Two inspectors carried out this inspection.

At the previous inspection in January 2017, the service was rated as “Requires Improvement” overall. This was because, although significant changes and improvements had been made to the service, these had not yet been fully embedded. During this inspection, we found the improvements had been sustained.

There was a registered manager at the service. 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 felt safe using the service. Staff knew how to report abuse if they were concerned a person was at risk of harm and abuse. People had risk assessments in place and management plans to mitigate the risks they may face. The provider completed appropriate checks when recruiting new staff. There were enough staff employed to ensure people’s visits were punctual and lasted for the required amount of time. The provider’s contingency plan ensured the service would continue if an emergency occurred. People were protected from the risk of the spread of infection. Staff told us they had access to plenty of gloves and aprons.

The provider carried out an assessment of needs before people began to use the service to ensure their needs could be met. Staff received regular supervisions and a range of training opportunities appropriate for their role. The provider worked jointly with healthcare professionals to ensure people’s health needs were met. The provider had systems in place to ensure there was good communication within the service. People gave their consent before staff gave them care. Staff were knowledgeable about their responsibilities under the Mental Health Act (2005).

People thought staff were caring. Staff were knowledgeable about developing positive relationships with people. People were involved in planning the care they received. Staff showed they understood about equality and diversity issues. People’s privacy and dignity was respected. In line with the aim of the service, staff supported people to regain their independence.

Staff knew how to deliver a personalised care service. Care plans were personalised and contained a detailed goal plan. People confirmed they received care in line with their preferences. Care plans were reviewed after the first week of service provision to determine people’s satisfaction with their support and at week three or four to determine if ongoing support was needed. People knew how to complain if they were not happy with their service. The provider dealt with issues before they became formal complaints and kept a record of compliments. The provider worked in partnership with other agencies in response to people’s changing needs.

Staff spoke positively about the management team. The provider had a system of obtaining feedback from people in order to make improvements to the service. Staff had regular meetings which kept them updated on training and good care practices. The provider used quality assurance systems to improve the quality of the service provided. The service was currently participating in several pilot schemes to improve the outcomes of people who used the service. The provider worked jointly with other agencies to ensure they could meet people’s needs and people’s expectations could be managed.