North West Care Cooperative - Chester received a Good rating across all five key questions at its first inspection, demonstrating a strong person-centred, user-led ethos with trusting relationships between personal assistants and the people they support. Minor recommendations were made regarding standardisation of medicine administration records and documentation of training completed prior to employment.
Concerns (3)
minor
Medication management
: “the provider policy lacked standardised document templates. This meant different systems were used by personal assistants to record the administration of prescribed medicines.”
minorRecord keeping: “a number of personal assistants had received specialised training around one person's needs prior to being employed... This training had not always been documented.”
minorStaff training: “We recommend the registered manager reviews the training records of all personal assistants to ensure an accurate record is maintained.”
Strengths
· People had choice and control over who supported them and when, with trusting relationships formed between people and personal assistants.
· People received kind, compassionate and dignified care with privacy and dignity respected.
· Support plans were person-centred, regularly reviewed, and developed in partnership with people and their families.
· Personal assistants supported people to pursue employment, education and leisure interests in their local community.
· The service operated as a 'user led' organisation with people, families and staff involved in decisions about how the service is run.
Quality-Statement breakdown (17)
safe: Using medicines safelyGood
safe: Staffing and recruitmentGood
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuse; Learning lessons when things go wrongGood
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and managementGood
safe: Preventing and controlling infectionGood
effective: Staff support: induction, training, skills and experienceGood
effective: Assessing people's needs and choices; delivering care in line with standards, guidance and the lawGood
effective: Supporting people to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced dietGood
effective: Ensuring consent to care and treatment in line with law and guidanceGood
caring: Supporting people to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their careGood
caring: Ensuring people are well treated and supported; respecting equality and diversity; promoting privacy, dignity and independenceGood
responsive: Planning personalised care to ensure people have choice and control and to meet their needs and preferencesGood
responsive: Meeting people's communication needsGood
responsive: Supporting people to develop and maintain relationships and take part in activitiesGood
responsive: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsGood
well-led: Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empoweringGood
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles, understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirements; Continuous learning and improving careGood