Updated 14 June 2022
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2008.
Inspection team
One inspector carried out the inspection.
Service and service type
This service is registered as a domiciliary care agency. It also provides personal care and support to six people living in individual ‘supported living’ properties to live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
The inspection was announced, to make arrangements to visit people in their homes and to ensure staff would be there to support the inspection.
We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people living in the supported living settings are often out and we needed to be sure people would be at home and staff available to speak with us.
The inspection activity started on 10 May 2022 and ended on 13 May 2022. We visited the office location on 12 May 2022.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received since the last inspection, including information from the local authority commissioning and safeguarding teams. The provider was not asked to complete the required Provider Information Return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about the service, what it does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account in making our judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan and inform our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with six people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. Some people were unable to talk with us and used different ways to communicate including, gestures, vocalisations and body language. We also observed how staff interacted with people during the inspection visits to people's homes.
We received feedback from 19 members of staff about their experiences of working for the service. This was in person, over the telephone and via email. We spoke with support workers, senior staff, the registered manager and the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.
We discussed the needs of all people using the service with staff providing their care and support and reviewed in depth two people’s care records. We looked at the medication records for all people using the service. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment, and records relating to staff training and support. We also reviewed records on the management and oversight of the service, including quality assurance audits, policies and procedures.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We received a range of records and updates on care processes and support plans and medicines audits.