Background to this inspection
Updated
27 September 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.
Inspection team
This inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
Registered Manager
This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 14 April 2022 and ended on 24 June 2022. We visited the office location on 14 April and 12 May 2022.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority. 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 used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with the registered manager. We reviewed a variety of records including three people’s care plan and risk assessment and information about care reviews. We also reviewed three staff files including recruitment, supervision, appraisals and numerous quality assurance processes.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and further quality assurance records and one more person’s care plan and risk assessment. We were unable to speak to people during the inspection as they were unable to communicate verbally. We spoke with three people’s relatives to get their feedback. We also spoke with three care staff.
Updated
27 September 2022
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
About the service
SSA Star Care Ltd is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. The service supports people living with a learning disability. At the time of the inspection the service was supporting four people.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Right Support
People were treated as individuals and were involved as partners in planning their care. 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. People’s care was regularly reviewed to make sure their needs were being met. People had regular care staff who people got to know and build a good working relationship with.
Right Care
People were supported to maintain their independence and lead full and enjoyable lives. Staff understood how to safely encourage people’s independence and support them to be in control of their care. Staff understood what was important to people and supported them to take part in activities that were meaningful to them. People’s care plans looked at how the service supported people to maintain their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
Right culture
The service was committed to providing a positive experience for people that ensured good outcomes. There were numerous methods for the registered manager to maintain oversight and monitor the quality of care. People were supported by staff who were well trained and understood how to work effectively with people living with a learning disability.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 17 November 2021 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.