Background to this inspection
Updated
19 October 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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
One inspector carried out this inspection.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in five 'supported living' settings, so that they can 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 registered 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.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was announced. We announced the inspection a few days in advance to ensure that people would give us permission to visit them in their home. Before we visited the supported living settings.
What we did before the inspection
The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed information we had received about the service since their registration
We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We visited the registered office and met with the director and registered manager. On another day we visited six people in their own home. We spoke with two support staff.
We reviewed two peoples care records. We looked at staff records in relation to recruitment, training and supervision. We also looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service and quality monitoring systems.
We spoke with one relative and one professional about their experience of the service. We also received three emails from staff.
Updated
19 October 2022
About the service
The Durnford Society is a domiciliary care service registered to provide personal care. The service provides personal care and support to adults of all ages living in their own homes within the Plymouth area. It provides a service to people with a learning disability, who may also have a physical disability and people living with sensory impairment.
The Durnford Society Domiciliary Care Service provides care and support to people living in a 'supported living' setting, so that they can 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 supports some people on a 24-hour basis and others who may require support with personal care needs at specific times of the day and/or night. At the time of this inspection, 36 people received support with their personal care needs from the agency.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting underpinning principles of “Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture".
Right support
The model of care and setting maximised people's choice, control and independence. The supported living services had good access to the local community and amenities.
The supported living services were staffed by a manager and a dedicated staff team who knew people well. Staff supported people to make choices about their daily lives and engage in activities, that were tailored to their individual needs and promoted their independence. People were supported to maintain and develop relationships. One person said; “Fantastic support.” While another told us about how they were supported on a holiday abroad recently.
People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Staff were recruited safely. The staff team had the appropriate levels of knowledge and skills to support people and responded to their individual needs and choices. New staff had an induction, training, supervisions, appraisals and staff meetings.
People received their medicines in a safe way and were protected from abuse and neglect. People’s care plans and risk assessments were clear and up to date.
Right care:
People received good quality person-centred care that promoted their dignity, privacy and human rights. People were involved in decisions about their care and support and staff empowered people to communicate what they wanted. Staff were observed talking to people in dignified and respectful way.
There was a strong person-centred culture within the staff team. Positive behaviour support plans had been developed for people. This helped staff understand the reasons for their behaviours and provided guidance to ensure consistent approaches were used when supporting them. Staff knew people well and demonstrated an understanding of their individual care, behavioural and communication needs. This helped ensure people’s views were heard and their diverse needs met. One person said; “I’ve lived here five years and all the staff are brilliant to me.”
Right culture:
The ethos, values, and attitudes of management and care staff ensured people led confident, inclusive and empowered lives. Staff created an environment that inspired people to achieve their goals and ambitions.
People lived as they wished, and staff supported them to do the things they enjoyed.
People, a relative and staff told us management were approachable and they listened to them when they had any concerns or ideas. All feedback was used to make continuous improvements to the service. One staff member told us; “I haven't worked anywhere better.”
Cleaning and infection control procedures had been updated in line with COVID-19 guidance to help protect people, visitors and staff from the risk of infection. Government guidance about COVID-19 testing for people, staff and visitors was being followed.
For more information, please read the detailed findings section of this report. If you are reading this as a separate summary, the full report can be found on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update:
This service was registered with us on 13 May 2021 and this is the first inspection.
The last rating for the service under the previous premises was good, published on 18 May 2018.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.