Archived: Home Based Breaks Service

Updated 7 November 2014

The inspection team consisted of one inspector and a specialist professional advisor, who was a clinical psychologist. Before the inspection we reviewed all the information we held about the home, contacted the local authority and Healthwatch. The provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR) and this was returned before the inspection.

We used a number of different methods to help us understand the experiences of people who used the service. We were unable to directly observe care provided as there were only five children in receipt of the service that fall in the remit of our inspection (190 children receive a service from Home Based Breaks overall) and none of whom received care on the day of the inspection. We spoke with five staff comprising the manager, co-ordinator and three support workers. We looked at three children’s care records, one staff file, the training matrix and other records relating to the management of the service. We spoke with three family members who represented three children who used the service. We contacted three allied professionals who had involvement with the service.

This report was written during the testing phase of our new approach to regulating adult social care services. After this testing phase, inspection of consent to care and treatment, restraint, and practice under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) was moved from the key question ‘Is the service safe?’ to ‘Is the service effective?

The ratings for this location were awarded in October 2014. They can be directly compared with any other service we have rated since then, including in relation to consent, restraint, and the MCA under the ‘Effective’ section. Our written findings in relation to these topics, however, can be read in the ‘Is the service safe’ sections of this report.

Updated 7 November 2014

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, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

The inspection was announced and carried out on 8 July 2014. The previous inspection took place in September 2013 and there were no concerns.

Home Based Breaks Service provides personal care for children with disabilities in their own homes or in the community. There were five children using the service that fall in the remit of our inspection. 190 children receive a service from the Home Based Breaks Service overall.

The service has a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service and shares the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law with the provider.

Children’s safety was given paramount importance and their awareness of safety was actively encouraged.  Staffing levels were good and these were determined based upon the individual needs of each child. The service carefully assessed individual risks to children, whilst not being risk averse, and staff empowered children to be independent and develop life skills.

Staff were experienced and knowledgeable to support children safely, with their skills closely matched to the individual needs of each child. Key staff who supported each child were consistent in order to form secure relationships and provide reliable, effective person-centred care. Staff’s close links with other professionals involved in children’s care meant children’s day to day health needs were met and referrals made when their needs changed.

Staff we spoke with were caring and passionate about their work with the children and there was a clear emphasis on children and children’s rights being at the centre of the service. Children’s care records reflected a strong ethos of caring for children and the people that mattered to them, such as their family.

Children were encouraged to express their views about their own care and about the service through daily discussion and in surveys and these were listened to and acted upon. Children’s family members were consulted about their child’s care and they spoke positively about the service and its impact upon their lives.

Home Based Breaks Service was well led, person-centred and based upon sound values that were embedded in practice. Staff were supported well and as a result, offered high quality support to children and families.