# Swindon Family Breaks Service *Operated by Swindon Borough Council.* Swindon Family Breaks Service is a CQC-regulated home-care agency in Swindon. ## CQC Ratings | Key question | Rating | | --- | --- | | Overall | Good | | Safe | Good | | Effective | Good | | Caring | Good | | Responsive | Good | | Well-led | Good | Rating published: 21/02/2023 ## Practical info - Postcode: SN2 1FH - Registered manager: Davidson, Stephanie - Local authority: Swindon - Region: South West - City: Swindon - Last CQC check: 21/Feb/2023 - 00:00 ## Inspection findings ### Other - Finding - Evidence: Positive partnerships with health and social care professionals, commissioners and social workers. - Published: 2023-02-21 - Finding - Evidence: Person-centred culture with easy-read welcome brochure, individualised communication support and meaningful activities. - Published: 2023-02-21 - Finding - Evidence: Staff meetings and monthly supervision took place routinely; staff felt listened to and engaged in service improvement. - Published: 2023-02-21 - Finding - Evidence: Governance and quality assurance processes were strengthened; registered manager had clear oversight of the service. - Published: 2023-02-21 - Finding - Evidence: Strong learning culture with incident review, updated risk assessments and care plans following adverse events. - Published: 2023-02-21 - Finding - Evidence: Infection prevention and control measures were fully assured across all assessed criteria. - Published: 2023-02-21 - Finding - Evidence: Medicines management processes were improved, including GP summaries and pre-stay medication checks with families. - Published: 2023-02-21 - Finding - Evidence: Safeguarding procedures were strengthened since the last inspection; staff felt confident raising concerns with leadership. - Published: 2023-02-21 - Finding - Evidence: Personal risk assessments were regularly reviewed and updated; emergency and fire evacuation plans were in place and well understood by staff. - Published: 2023-02-21 - **record_keeping** _(moderate)_ - Evidence: We identified a shortfall within the recruitment process which limited the providers oversight and opportunity for staff recruitment histories and references to be adequately scrutinised. - Published: 2023-02-21 - Finding - Evidence: Provider met duty of candour responsibilities and apologised when things went wrong. - Published: 2022-08-31 - Finding - Evidence: Regular supervisions and team meetings were held; staff gave positive feedback about support received. - Published: 2022-08-31 - Finding - Evidence: Management were visible, approachable and engaged positively with people, families and professionals. - Published: 2022-08-31 - Finding - Evidence: Staff felt respected, supported and valued; able to raise concerns without fear. - Published: 2022-08-31 - Finding - Evidence: Registered manager set a culture valuing reflection, learning and improvement and was receptive to challenge. - Published: 2022-08-31 - Finding - Evidence: Staff understood MCA principles and appropriate DoLS authorisations were in place. - Published: 2022-08-31 - Finding - Evidence: Effective infection prevention and control measures were in place, with good PPE use and clean premises. - Published: 2022-08-31 - Finding - Evidence: Staffing levels were sufficient including one-to-one support; agency staff used were already familiar to people. - Published: 2022-08-31 - Finding - Evidence: Staff understood and implemented STOMP principles ensuring medicines were reviewed by prescribers appropriately. - Published: 2022-08-31 - **other** _(moderate)_ - Evidence: a fire drill was supposed to take place every three months. However, only one fire drill was recorded for 2021 and one fire drill for 2022. - Published: 2022-08-31 - **staff_competency** _(critical)_ - Evidence: not all staff signed the document to confirm they were familiar with people's care plans... staff did not always follow appropriate guidance when working with the person. - Published: 2022-08-31 - **governance** _(moderate)_ - Evidence: Governance processes were not always effective and did not always hold staff accountable, keep people safe, protect people's rights and provide good quality care. - Published: 2022-08-31 - **incident_learning** _(moderate)_ - Evidence: The service did not always manage incidents affecting people's safety well. Staff recognised incidents but did not always report them appropriately. - Published: 2022-08-31 - **safeguarding** _(critical)_ - Evidence: The provider had no effective system in place that could provide staff with information about their responsibilities and where to escalate their safeguarding concerns. - Published: 2022-08-31 - **record_keeping** _(critical)_ - Evidence: one person's epilepsy protocol stated they needed to be checked on every 30 minutes, however their risk assessment stated the checks were to be completed every 15 minutes. - Published: 2022-08-31 - **care_planning** _(critical)_ - Evidence: one person's epilepsy protocol had not been reviewed since 2016 and contained out-of-date information about the person's medicines. - Published: 2022-08-31 - Finding - Evidence: Accessible complaints procedure available in easy-read pictorial format; concerns addressed openly - Published: 2021-10-30 - Finding - Evidence: Service designed in line with Registering the Right Support values: choice, independence and inclusion - Published: 2021-10-30 - Finding - Evidence: Effective quality assurance systems including regular audits with action plans to drive improvement - Published: 2021-10-30 - Finding - Evidence: New management team created an open, transparent and supportive culture boosting staff morale - Published: 2021-10-30 ## Source Data published by the [Care Quality Commission](https://www.cqc.org.uk/) under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Canonical page: https://homecarecompass.co.uk/agency/1-2087289284 HomeCare Compass is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the CQC.