Cambridge City Council – Ditchburn Place is registered to provide personal care to people living in their own flats within an extra care housing complex. There were 22 people receiving personal care from the service when we visited. This inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

At the last inspection on 6 May 2015 the service was rated as ‘Good’. At this inspection we found the service remained ‘Good’.

A registered manager was in post at the time of the inspection. 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.

Systems were in place to manage risks to people using the service and to keep them safe. This included assisting people safely with their mobility, personal care and medicines.

There were sufficient numbers of staff to safely assist and support people. The recruitment and selection procedure ensured that only suitable staff were employed to provide care and support to people using the service.

The registered manager and staff understood the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005. People were supported to have choice and control over their lives as much as possible. Staff supported people in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and procedures in the service supported this practice.

People’s needs were assessed, so that their care was planned and delivered in a consistent way. The management staff and care staff were knowledgeable about the people they supported and knew their care needs well. Staff offered people choices such choosing the meals they wished to eat. These choices were respected and actioned by staff.

People experienced a good quality of life because staff received training that gave them the right skills and knowledge to meet their needs. People were supported and assisted with their daily routines, shopping and accessing places of their choice in the community.

People received appropriate support to maintain a healthy diet and were able to choose meals and drinks they preferred. People were assisted to have access to a range of health care professionals, when they needed them.

Staff were clear about the values of the service in relation to providing people with compassionate care in a dignified and respectful manner. Staff knew what was expected of them and staff supported people in a respectful and dignified manner during our inspection.

There were processes in place to assess, monitor and improve the service. People had been consulted about how they wished their care to be delivered and their choices had been respected. People, their relatives and staff were provided with the opportunity to give their feedback about the quality of the service provided.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

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Care and support is provided to 36 people living in ‘Extra Care Housing’ situated in the Ditchburn Place housing complex. People that we spoke with were very pleased with the care and assistance they received from care staff and one person told us that: “The carers are really good and always cheerful.” People told us that care staff provided them with care and support in a respectful and dignified way.

We saw that peoples’ preferences were recorded in care plans regarding the way they wished their care to be provided and planned. Care and support was appropriately assessed with guidelines for staff about the care and support the person required.

We saw evidence that staff were trained and monitored regarding the administration of medicines. Staff were aware of their responsibilities when recording the administration of medicines that they had given or prompted people to take.

There were effective recruitment procedures in place which ensured that all appropriate checks had been made prior to staff starting work. There was an induction programme in place for new staff and mandatory training was provided to ensure they were competent to deliver care.

Quality assurance procedures were in place for monitoring the running of the service and people were able to raise any issues and concerns with the manager and staff team.

Personal care is provided to 36 people living in ‘Extra Care Housing’ situated in the Ditchburn Place housing complex. People we spoke with told us that that they had received a variety of information prior to their support package commencing. People told us that they were very satisfied with the standard and quality of care that was provided. One person summarised this by saying, "I am very happy with the support I receive and the carers help me with whatever I need” People told us that they felt safe and that the staff were respectful and kind at all times.

Staff that we spoke with said that they felt supported by the management team of the service. They also confirmed that they received ongoing training to ensure their continued safe practice.

There were effective quality assurance procedures to monitor and improve the services that were provided.

Cambridge City Council Care – Ditchburn Place is a domiciliary care service registered to provide personal care to people living in their own flats in the Ditchburn Place housing complex. There were 32 people using the service when we visited.

This inspection took place on 06 May 2015. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice. This was to ensure that staff were available to support the inspection and that people were aware we may contact them by telephone.

The previous inspection was undertaken on 29 October 2013 when we found the provider was meeting the requirements of the regulations we assessed against.

At the time of this inspection there was a registered manager in post. 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.

Staff were knowledgeable about reporting any abuse. There were sufficient numbers of staff to ensure that people could have their needs met in a timely way and recruitment procedures ensured that only suitable staff were employed. Risk assessments were in place to ensure that care could be safely delivered in the person’s flat and actions were taken to reduce any identified risks. Arrangements were in place to ensure that people were supported and protected with the safe management of their medicines.

Staff had received training on the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DoLS). This legislation sets out procedures where people do not have capacity and what guidelines must be followed to ensure that people’s freedoms are not unlawfully restricted.

People were supported with their nutritional needs, where appropriate, during the care visits they received.

Members of staff were trained to provide effective and safe care which met people’s individual needs and wishes. Staff we met understood their roles and responsibilities and they were supported by the registered manager to maintain and develop their skills and knowledge through ongoing support and regular training. The staff were in contact with a range of health care professionals to ensure that the care and support that people required, in respect of their health care needs, was well coordinated.

People’s privacy and dignity were respected and their care and support was provided in a caring and a patient way.

A complaints procedure was in place and complaints had been responded to, to the satisfaction of the complainant. People felt able to raise concerns with the staff at any time.

The provider had effective quality assurance processes and procedures in place to monitor the quality and safety of people’s care. People and their relatives were able to make suggestions in relation to the support and care provided.