Banbury respite care service 'requires improvement'

A service that provides respite care for people with learning and/or physical disabilities has been giving a rating of 'requires improvement' by the Care Quality Commission.
A rating of 'requires improvement' has been given to a respite home in BanburyA rating of 'requires improvement' has been given to a respite home in Banbury
A rating of 'requires improvement' has been given to a respite home in Banbury

Short Term Breaks which operates close to the town centre offers a range of support agreed with the county council and can include emergency respite stays, tea visits and overnight stays.

CQC inspectors say the service requires improvement in its safety and leadership, while its effectiveness, caring and responsiveness are rated 'good'. The overall rating is 'requires improvement'.

The CQC report, released this week, said: "The CQC found the provider's quality assurance systems and processes to monitor people's records had not been effective in ensuring these were checked and updated in a timely way. People's support records needed to be reviewed so that the provider could be confident staff had all the up to date information they needed to support people.

"People's medicines were managed safely and effectively although records relating to how people take their medicines and express if they need 'as required' medicines had not been in place on the first day of the inspection.

"Other audits and checks on different aspects of the service, for example, health and safety, were effective in identifying if there were areas needing to be improved.

"People told us they enjoyed visiting the service and had friends they could meet up with whilst they stayed at the service.

"Relatives were happy with the service and although spoke about the changes with the staff team, they felt people were safe whilst using the service. There were sufficient numbers of staff in place and they understood how to provide people with safe, person centred care and support," said the inspectors.

"We saw people taking part in activities and people told us they liked going out and this was offered to them whenever they were staying at the service. People, and where applicable their relatives, could discuss their support needs and they were involved with how they wanted to be supported.

"Accessible information was provided to help people make an informed choice. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice."

Inspectors found the service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them enjoying their stay at the respite service and having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and socialise with other people.

Complaints and safeguarding concerns were handled and responded to in line with the provider's policies and procedures. Accidents and incidents were investigated so that any identified patterns could be investigated and acted on so that lessons could be learnt.

The last rating for this service was good (published April 25, 2018). Since this rating was awarded the registered provider of the service has changed. The CQC used the previous rating, good, to inform planning and decisions about the rating at this inspection.

Short Term Breaks support up to five people and 31 people were accessing the service at the time of the CQC inspection. The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance.

This ensures people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the

need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

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