Leaf Complex Care South East

Updated 28 September 2023

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.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 5 September 2023 and ended on 9 September 2023. We visited the office location on 5 September.

What we did before inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection and sought feedback from local authority commissioners and health and social care professionals.

During the inspection

We spoke with 1 relative, the registered manager, the administrator and the care coordinator. We viewed 3 care plans, 3 staff files in relation to recruitment, induction and supervision records, training records, policies and procedures and a variety of records relating to the management of the service. Following the inspection, we spoke with 3 more relatives, and received feedback from 4 members of support staff. We also requested and received a range of documents which we reviewed.

Updated 28 September 2023

About the service

Leaf Complex Care South East is a domiciliary care agency. The service delivers personal care to people living with learning disabilities and autistic people. At the time of the inspection, 3 people were using the service.

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. We considered this guidance as there were people using the service who have a learning disability and or who are autistic.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.

Right Support:

People who used the service were supported by caring staff to exercise their choices and remain as independent as possible. The staff worked in a person-centred way, knew people’s individual needs and how to meet these. Relatives told us their family members were happy and had meaningful and fulfilling lives. People were 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.

The staff and managers focused on people’s strengths to help ensure they could meet the needs of all the people, regardless of how complex these were. The registered manager involved people and their representatives in the planning of their care and support and care plans were based on the individual according to their choices and wishes. People were supported to pursue their interests and achieve aspirations and goals. People took part in a range of social activities of their choice.

Staff supported people with de-escalation techniques when they became anxious or agitated, which prevented them from restraining people. People received their medicines safely and as prescribed.

Right Care:

The staff provided kind and compassionate care and relatives told us their family members were respected, valued and happy. Staff protected and respected people’s privacy and dignity. People’s individual wishes and needs were met by staff who were well trained and supported, and put people’s needs at the centre of everything they did.

Staff received training in safeguarding adults and understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. People were supported to improve their skills and learn new ones. The registered manager and care workers had worked with each person to understand their individual needs, and how to improve their lives and give them the best opportunities. This had resulted in a marked improvement in people’s quality of life.

Right Culture:

Relatives and staff told us the culture of the service was good. The registered manager and staff worked with people to empower them to lead happy and meaningful lives. Staff told us they enjoyed their work and felt appreciated. This meant people received good quality care and support.

The management supported staff to receive regular training so they could understand best practice in relation to the range of needs people with a learning disability and/or autistic people may have. This meant people received compassionate care that was tailored to their needs. Staff were happy working at the service and enjoyed their jobs, so turnover was low. This resulted in people being supported by regular staff who knew them well.

There were regular and effective monitoring systems in place and prompt action was taken when concerns were identified. Relatives knew how to complain and were happy with the service. They told us when they had to raise any concern, it was dealt with promptly and appropriately.

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 3 September 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about ineffective management and staff continuity. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We found no evidence people were at risk of harm from these concerns.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.