Dumfries and Galloway Outreach Services Housing Support Service Regional Office 2 Gordon Street Dumfries DG1 1EG
Inspected by: Craig Martin (Care Commission Officer)
Type of inspection: Announced
Inspection completed on: 10 October 2006
1/7 Service Number Service name
CS2004082377 Dumfries and Galloway Outreach Services
Service address
Regional Office 2 Gordon Street Dumfries DG1 1EG
dummy Provider Number Provider Name
SP2003003760 National Schizophrenia Fellowship (Scotland)
dummy Inspected By Inspection Type
Craig Martin Announced Care Commission Officer dummy Inspection Completed Period since last inspection
10 October 2006 11 Months
dummy Local Office Address
Scottish Commission for the Regulation of Care South West Region Galloway House The Crichton Bankend Road Dumfries DG1 4ZZ
dummy
2/7 Introduction Dumfries & Galloway Outreach Service is a Housing Support Service operated by The National Schizophrenia Fellowship (NSF). The service provides support to adults affected by mental illness who are between the ages of 16 and 65. The outreach service is provided across Dumfries & Galloway in the Stewartry, Wigtownshire, Nithsdale and Annandale & Eskdale Districts.
The service aims to improve the wellbeing and quality of life of those affected by schizophrenia and other mental illness by providing a broad range of help and support. This includes support with practical tasks/life skills and help to maintain a tenancy.
This service was first registered with the Care Commission on 1 April 2006.
Basis of Report This service was inspected after a Regulation Support Assessment (RSA) was carried out to determine what level of support was necessary. The RSA is an assessment undertaken by the Care Commission Officer which considers: complaints activity, changes in the provision of the service, nature of notifications made to the Care Commission by the service, action taken upon requirement etc.
The service was required to have a low level of support that resulted in an inspection based on the national inspection themes and any recommendations and requirements from previous inspections, complaint or other regulatory activity.
This inspection included a visit to organisations headquarters on 30 May 2006 by Care Commission to audit safer recruitment policies, procedures and practices.
Before this inspection visit: The service was requested to complete an annual return, a self evaluation and answer questions in relation to the national inspection themes for 2006/07. Electronic copies of the Annual Return and the Self-Evaluation were returned to the Care Commission. The Care Commission Officer wrote to the manager telling them when the inspection would take place.
During the inspection which took place between 10 October 2006 and 27 November 2006, the Care Commission Officer spoke with: - The Regional Manager - The Deputy Manager
Questionnaires were sent to service users and staff inviting them to take part in the inspection; the following were returned: - 3 Service User questionnaires - 6 Staff Questionnaires
The Care Commission Officers also looked at some policies, procedures and records including the following: - Recruitment & Selection Policies. - Staff Personnel Files. - The Services Introductory Pack.
The Care Commission Officer took all of the above into account and reported on whether the
3/7 service was meeting with some elements of the following National Care Standards, Housing Support Services: Standard 2: Your Legal Rights. Standard 3: Management and Staffing. Standard 4: Housing Support Planning. Standard 6: Choice and Communication.
The inspection focussed on the following theme: Safer Recruitment.
Action taken on requirements in last Inspection Report One requirement was identified in the previous inspection report dated 14 December 2006. This requirement had been addressed by the organisation centrally prior to this inspection.
Comments on Self-Evaluation The manager of the service completed an on-line self-evaluation document prior to the inspection of the service. In this document the manager described where they felt the organisation had strengths in meeting with the National Care Standards whilst identifying ongoing areas of development.
The self-evaluation document also outlined what progress had been made in meeting with the requirements of the Scottish Social Services council Code of Practice for Employers. All staff had been issued with a personal copy of the SSSC Codes of Practice.
View of Service Users The views of 3 service users were obtained through questionnaires. Overall there was a poor response with a total of 20 questionnaires being issued. All 3 service users that responded stated that they were satisfied with the service that they received they also felt that staff treated them in a polite and respectful manner; they also stated that they had satisfactory skills and knowledge to meet their needs. All were happy that they received the care and support that had been agreed and confirmed that they had a support plan in place. Comments from service users included:
“The service is excellent” “Staff are always professional etc, but are also friendly and caring” “I feel the staff have exactly the right skills to meet my needs” “I cannot speak too highly of the service provided by NSF”
View of Carers No feedback was received from the relatives or friends of service users during this inspection.
4/7 Regulations / Principles
Regulation :
Strengths
Areas for Development
National Care Standards
National Care Standard Number 2: Housing Support Services - Your Legal Rights
Strengths
Not all elements of this standard were examined during this inspection; the areas looked at related to the recommendations of the inspection report dated 14 December 2005.
In general this service was found to perform well in relation to the National Care Standard – Your Legal Rights.
The service manager had included details of how to access Care Commission inspection reports in their information pack since the last inspection.
Areas for Development
None.
National Care Standard Number 3: Housing Support Services - Management and Staffing Arrangements
Strengths
Not all elements of this standard were examined during this inspection. The areas inspected under this standard include the Care Commissions themes for inspection 2006/7: Safer Recruitment.
Safe Recruitment – In general this service was found to perform well in relation to the National Care Standards – Management and Staffing Arrangements. An audit of the organisations safer recruitment policies, procedures and practices was carried out by the Care Commission on 30th May 2006 and were found to be satisfactory.
Areas for Development
The following areas for development were identified during the audit:
The provider does not currently have a system in place for regular rechecking of Enhanced
5/7 Disclosure (Scotland) checks. The provider should consider introducing a system of rechecking enhanced Disclosures as a matter of good practice.
While the organisation demonstrated good practice in relation to the safe recruitment of staff, there were some examples of where procedures had not been rigorously followed. These examples related to the absence of two written references, however were historical. On discussion it was agreed that as there would be no benefit to retrospective references, the focus would be on ensuring future good practice.
National Care Standard Number 4: Housing Support Services - Housing Support Planning
Strengths
In general this service was found to perform well in relation to the National Care Standards – Housing Support Planning.
Those service users communicated with during the inspection stated that they had a written support plan that ensured that the service they received was meeting their needs.
The ‘Service User Support Planning’ documentation examined at a previous inspection of the service was found to meet will all of the elements of standard 4.2. The document also made provision for all elements of the support plan to be reviewed.
Service users are informed that there are no charges for the service that they receive.
Areas for Development
None.
National Care Standard Number 6: Housing Support Services - Choice and Communication
Strengths
This standard was not examined during this inspection of the service.
Areas for Development
None.
6/7 Enforcement No action taken.
Other Information None.
Requirements None.
Recommendations None.
Craig Martin Care Commission Officer
7/7