Archived: Sevacare - Blackpool

Updated 2 July 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.

The inspection team consisted of an adult social care inspector and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. The expert by experience for the inspection at Sevacare had experience of caring for older people.

Prior to our unannounced inspection on 18, 20 and 25 May 2016, we reviewed the information we held about Sevacare. This included notifications we had received from the provider. These related to incidents that affect the health, safety and welfare of people who received support in their own homes. We checked safeguarding alerts, comments and concerns received about the service. At the time of our inspection, the provider was working with the Local Authority’s investigation into ongoing safeguarding concerns.

We spoke with a range of people about this service. They included the registered manager, five staff members, seven people who accessed the service and three relatives. We discussed the service with the local authority who told us they had no ongoing concerns about Sevacare.

We also spent time looking at records. We checked documents in relation to eight people who had received support from Sevacare and five staff files. We reviewed records about staff training and support, as well as those related to the management and safety of the service.

Updated 2 July 2016

The inspection visit at Sevacare - Blackpool was undertaken on 18, 20 and 25 May 2016 and was announced. We gave 48 hours’ notice of the inspection to ensure people who accessed the service, staff and visitors were available to talk with us.

Sevacare provides personal care assistance for people who live in their own homes. The service supports people who may live with a physical or sensory disability, mental health condition, dementia or learning disability. The office is based in Blackpool town centre.

A registered manager was in place. 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.

At the last inspection on 01 July 2014, we found the provider was meeting the requirements of the regulations.

During this inspection, people and their representatives told us they felt safe whilst being supported in their own home. One person said, “I’m very happy, I trust my carer.” Staff demonstrated a good understanding safeguarding principles.

People said there was consistency of staff who met their care packages. All staff had completed the training, which they were required to repeat every three years to refresh their understanding. The registered manager followed safe recruitment practices to protect people from unsuitable staff.

Individuals who accessed the service told us they felt fully supported when assisted with their medication. Staff undertook related training and the management team checked their skills through competency testing.

Staff demonstrated a good awareness of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. A relative told us, “They’re very good to [my relative], they’re not rough.” People or their representatives had signed their consent to care in their care planning and other associated records.

People told us staff responded to their needs with a personalised approach. We found staff worked collaboratively with them and relatives, fully involving them in their care. Care records were based around the person’s requirements and preferences. Systems were in place to assist people to make a complaint if they chose to.

We observed staff were patient and aided people to maintain their dignity and independence. One person said, “They’re very, very good and very cheerful.” Where applicable, staff assisted people with their nutritional needs and checked their preferences in relation to what they wanted to eat.

Individuals who accessed Sevacare said it was well run and they could contact the office if they had any concerns. We found evidence of the registered manager acting upon identified concerns and feedback from people and their relatives. A range of audits was in place to maintain their safety and wellbeing.