Aarons Specialist Unit

At our last assessment to the service in March 2023, risk assessments were not always completed. The protocols for managing people’s medicines were not always in line with best practice. This was a breach of regulation as the care and treatment was not always safe. Although some improvements were still required, enough improvement had been made at this assessment and the provider no longer remained in breach of this regulation.

Improvements were required to ensure safeguarding procedures were embedded in staff’s day to day practice. Risk assessments were completed but some lacked detail on how risks posed should be mitigated. De-escalation techniques were not routinely used or considered prior to the use of restraint by staff. There were enough staff deployed but people’s and relatives’ comments relating to staffing were variable. Minor improvements were required to some aspects of medicines management. Improvements were required to staff inductions, training and supervision. Following our assessment the above had been included for action to the service’s Home Action Plan [HAP].

At our last assessment to the service in March 2023, conditions relating to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguard [DoLS] authorisations were not being met. The provider had not taken action to meet the required conditions of DoLS authorisations. This was a breach of Regulation 11 [Need for consent] of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 [Regulated Activities] Regulations 2014. Although some improvements were still required, enough improvement had been made at this assessment and the provider no longer remained in breach of this regulation.

People’s needs were assessed prior to their admission to the service. People supported to eat and drink enough. The service worked collaboratively across services to meet people’s needs. We found the service was not always working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

At our last assessment to the service in March 2023, we found the provider’s quality assurance arrangements to be ineffective. This was a breach of regulation as the governance arrangements were not robust. Although some improvements were still required, enough improvement had been made at this assessment and the provider no longer remained in breach of this regulation.

Although people told us the service was well managed and led, improvements were required to the service’s quality assurance arrangements as shortfalls identified at this assessment were not routinely identified by the service. Following our assessment the above had been included for action to the service’s Home Action Plan [HAP].