Alzheimer Scotland - Action on Dementia - Renfrewshire Services Support Service 32 Riccartsbar Avenue Paisley PA2 6BG Telephone: 0141 887 1289 & 0141 410 5327 Type of inspection: Unannounced Inspection completed on: 1 December 2016 Service provided by: Alzheimer Scotland - Action on Dementia Service provider number: SP2003002734 Care service number: CS2003034648
About the service We completed this report following an unannounced visit to the service. We visited on different days to spend time at the day centre and we also visited some service users and carers in their own homes. Alzheimer Scotland - Action on Dementia - Renfrewshire Services provided a Day Care, Evening Care Service and a Home Support service for adults in the Renfrewshire area who have been diagnosed with dementia. The service which is situated in the Paisley area of Renfrewshire operates from the ground floor of a detached house, it also hosts the administration offices for the service and the Home Support Service. Service users have access to several lounge and dining areas and a well landscaped, private garden. The Home Support service is provided within the Service Users own home. A maximum of 12 people attended the Day Care (Memory Lane Club) per day, while a maximum of eight people attended the evening sessions. The Home Support service which was responsive to individual needs was offered to people in their own homes seven days per week and was supporting a high number of service users. Amongst the service aims it states "To help maintain the person with dementia's sense of self-esteem and dignity and to have respect for both". What people told us We spoke with service users within their own homes and at the day centre. We also spent time with them during group activities. We spoke with carers at home and we attended a carers peer support group. The feedback we got about the quality of the service was overwhelmingly positive:- 'I am very satisfied with the care and support given by the service. The service is enabling my mother to be safe, independent and comfortable in her own home. I have peace of mind knowing that the team are well trained in dealing with dementia, caring, motivated and professional in dealing with mum's needs and also my needs. All members of the team communicate well with me either by telephone, email or text. This, again, is very important to me as I have peace of mind knowing mum is safe and well. Mum is brighter and communicates better with me when the girls have been in to see to her needs.' 'I am more than happy to give you my views on this wonderful home support service that my mum receives from Alzheimer Scotland and how satisfied we are. My mum appears to be very happy. To me the home support gives me peace of mind as I know she has super company two days a week.they have helped me so much with Doctor and hospital appointments and other bits and pieces. They are our shining stars!' 'I cannot emphasise enough the dedication all the staff we have come in contact with have towards this illness and as a family member of someone who has Dementia see the necessity of having a specialised support mechanism like Alzheimer Scotland in place. No issue is too big or too small for them and they always make time to listen to us and offer support and advice'. 'I am very happy with the service provided. From the initial consultation they set out to meet the service that I was looking for and to ensure that they matched a "carer" that met the type of personality I asked for. Staff act professionally and are all motivated to do their jobs well and most of all, they care. There is lots of information and support available/offered and I have found that they will always try to accommodate and provide notice of any changes.' page 2 of 8
Self assessment The self-assessment was completed to a good standard and referred to throughout the inspection process. From this inspection we graded this service as: Quality of care and support Quality of environment Quality of staffing Quality of management and leadership 6 - Excellent not assessed 6 - Excellent not assessed Quality of care and support Findings from the inspection When we spoke with service users and their carers, the feedback we got was extremely positive about the service. We were told that the service gave carers 'breathing space' and the service was a 'lifeline' in supporting them to continue to care for a relative with dementia. Many service users told us how important it was for them to be able to 'have a laugh' and 'get out and about' when spending time with staff. The care plans we looked at were person centred and fully reflective of each service users needs, preferences and interests. The service users' diagnosis of dementia was recorded in a sensitive manner but also in a way where we could see how the service promoted what the service user was able to do and still enjoy. It was evident that staff knew the service users very well and we saw warm relationships between them and service users. We could also see that staff were vigilant about service users' health needs and would pass any observations and concerns on to family members. Within the day care part of the service, service users had access to different rooms and activities and were offered a freshly cooked meal, which was much appreciate and enjoyed. In discussions with service users and carers we were given examples of activities and events that they had attended or were still attending or involved with. We heard about the singing memories group, the dementia cafes, the peer support groups and larger celebratory events. We were also told about the individual time staff spent with service users going for a coffee, going for a walk or supporting service users in their own home. These smaller activities were just as important for service users who preferred to stay at home or who liked to maintain local social connections. Carers told us how 'essential' this service was in giving them some time to themselves and we were told that the service was a 'lifeline' as it gave carers time for themselves. We were told that the communication between service users and carers and the service was very good. Carers were kept up to date with how their relative was doing whilst spending time with staff and this was very much appreciated. It was evident that the care and support provided by the service played a very important part in supporting service users with a diagnosis of dementia to be cared for at home and still be part of their local community by either being supported in their own home or attending the day service. page 3 of 8
Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 0 Grade: 6 - excellent Quality of environment This quality theme was not assessed. Quality of staffing Findings from the inspection We found staff to be professional, enthusiastic and highly motivated. The comments we received from service users and carers again were overwhelmingly positive and most are noted in the comments section of this report however we were told:- 'My mum loves her support worker and this helps me enormously.' 'The service has provided wonderful support in many ways.' 'I am very happy with this service, staff always respond to my needs.' 'This service and the staff are a life-saver.' We observed staff spending time with service users and carers both in the family home and at the day service. Staff were courteous, kind, responsive and warm relationships were evident. We saw very patient practice when a service user became quite agitated around the time for going home. We found that staff were well trained and received regular support and supervision. We discussed dementia training during this inspection. We found staff to be very skilled and knowledgeable in this area and they had all or were working towards the appropriate level of the Promoting Excellence Framework. The organisation should ensure that it continues to support staff to complete this training by offering access to the required modules. A very good range of additional training, informed by the needs of service users and staff had also been delivered. We concluded that the overall approach to the training and development of staff was very good. Staff valued the work they did and told us that the management team had supported them to provide a high standard of care to service users. Staff felt able to raise any issues or concerns and told us they felt appreciated by management. page 4 of 8
We spent time with staff discussing the new registration of part of the existing service in April 2017. The care at home component of this service will become part of a new employee owned service called Caledonia Social Care. Staff we spoke with stated they felt slight apprehension with the forthcoming change but they also told us that they had been fully consulted and were receiving regular updates, which gave them reassurance. They also advised us that they had received no concerns or enquiries from service users or carers about the new proposals, therefore they felt satisfied that everyone was being kept well-informed. Requirements Number of requirements: 0 Recommendations Number of recommendations: 0 Grade: 6 - excellent Quality of management and leadership This quality theme was not assessed. What the service has done to meet any requirements we made at or since the last inspection Previous requirements There are no outstanding requirements. What the service has done to meet any recommendations we made at or since the last inspection Previous recommendations Recommendation 1 The information within the review report and subsequent minute of the meeting should be comprehensive. The progress made by the service user and any concerns should be well documented with a clear focus on outcomes for the service user whilst using the service. page 5 of 8
This recommendation was made on 24 August 2015. Action taken on previous recommendation Since last inspection the review format has changed. The review paperwork we saw was much more person centred and outcome focussed. This recommendation has been met. Complaints There have been no complaints upheld since the last inspection. Details of any older upheld complaints are published at www.careinspectorate.com. Enforcement No enforcement action has been taken against this care service since the last inspection. Inspection and grading history Date Type Gradings 24 Aug 2015 Unannounced Care and support 6 - Excellent Management and leadership 9 Sep 2014 Unannounced Care and support Management and leadership 26 Sep 2013 Unannounced Care and support Management and leadership 30 Jan 2013 Unannounced Care and support 6 - Excellent Management and leadership page 6 of 8
Date Type Gradings 30 Jun 2011 Unannounced Care and support Not assessed Management and leadership 9 Sep 2010 Announced Care and support Not assessed Management and leadership Not assessed 15 Jan 2010 Announced Care and support 2 - Weak Management and leadership Not assessed 19 Nov 2008 Announced Care and support 4 - Good 4 - Good Management and leadership 4 - Good page 7 of 8
To find out more This inspection report is published by the Care Inspectorate. You can download this report and others from our website. Care services in Scotland cannot operate unless they are registered with the Care Inspectorate. We inspect, award grades and help services to improve. We also investigate complaints about care services and can take action when things aren't good enough. Please get in touch with us if you would like more information or have any concerns about a care service. You can also read more about our work online at www.careinspectorate.com Contact us Care Inspectorate Compass House 11 Riverside Drive Dundee DD1 4NY enquiries@careinspectorate.com 0345 600 9527 Find us on Facebook Twitter: @careinspect Other languages and formats This report is available in other languages and formats on request. Tha am foillseachadh seo ri fhaighinn ann an cruthannan is cànain eile ma nithear iarrtas. page 8 of 8