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Aug 2022

Last Updated: 19/08/2022

Health

County council home care service in Starbeck 'requires improvement'

by Vicky Carr

| 21 Aug, 2022

The Care Quality Commission found Harrogate Home Support only met the standards for a 'good' rating in one of the five areas of judgement during its inspection in June.

A home care service provided by North Yorkshire County Council in Harrogate has been rated as 'requires improvement' by the industry regulator.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) found Harrogate Home Support only met the standards for a 'good' rating in one of the five areas of judgement during its inspection in June.

The report, published this month, said the service - based at NYCC's premises at 68a High Street - did not always give people enough choice over their lives and that record-keeping was not always thorough enough.

The report said:

"We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.

"Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

"The service was not able to demonstrate how they were meeting some of the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.

"Records were not always up to date and decisions made on behalf of people under the Mental Health Act 2005 were inconsistently applied or reviewed to ensure they continued to be the least restrictive option and in the persons [sic] best interest.

"The registered manager was responsive to our feedback and acted immediately. Associated health professionals were contacted to review all outstanding decision making and review records to ensure they included up to date person centred information."

The report said staff followed infection control procedures with the correct personal protective equipment (PPE). It said they also issued medication safely, which was acknowledged by service users and their families.

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However, the assessments of whether the service was well-led, effective, responsive and safe all concluded it 'requires improvement'. The report highlighted areas of concern such as:

"Information including risk assessments had not been completed to keep people and staff safe when navigating in and around people's homes.

"An incident was recorded where staff had been attacked by a domestic animal owned by a person in receipt of a service. There was no evidence to demonstrate the actions taken to ensure everyone was aware of the risks and to keep others safe as part of lessons learnt."

Inspectors found service users were encouraged in their hobbies and supported to take part in activities relating to these.

They were also given help to keep in touch with friends and family, such as learning to use video calling.

The service supports 15 people, of whom 11 receive care which is regulated by the CQC, and employs 32 staff.

'Very happy'

Assessing whether the service was caring, the CQC report rated this area 'good' and said:

"People and their relatives told us they were actively involved in the planning of their care and were supported to express their views.

"One person said, "I have a care plan and I had a review a few weeks back. I was very happy. Everything went smoothly so I feel very happy.'"

The CQC said it had highlighted the areas of concern to North Yorkshire County Council and requested a report back about the action to be taken.

Those areas will then be checked by the CQC to ensure progress has been made.

Cllr Michael Harrison, North Yorkshire County Council's executive member for health and adult services, said:

“We accept the findings of the Care Quality Commission inspection and although we are disappointed with the performance of Harrogate Home Support in some areas we are pleased the service was recognised as caring.

“Work has already started to address issues raised in the report and we believe those measures will help Harrogate Home Support receive a good CQC rating in future.

“In addition, we have also been in contact with families to make them aware of the outcome of this inspection and to invite any questions or concerns they may have about relatives in the care of Harrogate Home Support.”

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County council home care service in Starbeck 'requires improvement'

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'Very happy'