Helping Hands Specialist Care Services achieved a Good rating across all five key questions at its first CQC inspection, demonstrating safe, person-centred care for 60 people with complex needs including brain injury, learning disabilities and autism. Minor gaps were identified in consent/capacity documentation, supervision frequency, and medicines recording, with recommendations made to fully document best interests decisions.
Concerns (6)
moderate
Consent / capacity
: “Some decisions made in the best interests of people to maintain their safety were not always fully documented.”
minorRecord keeping: “A small number of care records were in need of some update, but this was being addressed.”
minorSupervision / appraisal: “Supervision sessions had not been carried out as regularly as it should for a small number of staff.”
minorStaff training: “Staff received suitable training although a small number of staff were a little behind. Refresher training was planned.”
minorMedication management: “We did find some minor recording issues, but these had no impact on people. The registered manager addressed these straight away.”
minorInfection control: “We observed one occasion where staff had not used gloves when they should have. This was addressed by the registered manager.”
Strengths
· People were treated with dignity, kindness and respect, with many compliments received about the caring attitude of staff.
· Robust recruitment processes and sufficient staffing levels ensured people received their care calls.
· Personalised, person-centred support enabled people to have choice, control and independence in their lives.
· Effective partnership working with local authority, healthcare professionals and specialist teams.
· Accidents and incidents were recorded, reported and analysed monthly for trends, with lessons shared with staff.