Updated 29 April 2025
Date of assessment: 15 May to 5 June 2025.
House of Caring Ltd provides support to children with learning disabilities and/or autism living with their families, and older people living in their own homes. CQC onlyinspects 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. At the time of our assessment the service supported 3 children with learning disabilities and/or autism and 5 older people with personal care.
We assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ (RSRCRC) guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. We found people’s care was provided in line with the principles of RSRCRC.
The assessment was carried out by an inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
We met with the provider via Microsoft Teams to hear how they managed the service and ensured people received safe and effective care. We reviewed care records for 4 people, and records related to staff recruitment, training and supervision, medicines management, quality monitoring and governance.
We spoke with 6 relatives of people who used the service to hear their views about the care their family members received. We also received feedback from 2 relatives via our Give Feedback On Care forms, and from 3 professionals who had worked with the service. We heard from 8 staff about the induction, training and support they received from the provider.
We reviewed the Provider Information Return (PIR) submitted in October 2024. This 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 carried out this assessment in response to information of concern we had received about the care and support provided by the service. We did not find evidence to support these concerns.
People received a safe and reliable service. Staff received detailed information about people’s needs before they provided their care and had enough time at each visit to provide the support outlined in people’s care plans.
Staff understood their responsibility to protect people from the risk of abuse or avoidable harm and knew how to report any concerns they had. The provider worked with other relevant agencies to investigate and take action if safeguarding concerns were raised.
The provider monitored people’s healthcare needs effectively and worked collaboratively with professionals to achieve the best possible health outcomes for people. People’s medicines were managed safely.
People received safe, well-planned care that was tailored to their individual needs. Any risks involved in people’s care were assessed and mitigated.
Staff were recruited safely and had access to the induction, training and support they needed to carry out their roles. Managers and staff communicated effectively with one another and there was a good sense of teamwork. Staff told us the management team were approachable and supportive, and that team meetings were used to share information and provide mutual support. The provider valued diversity in the workforce and promoted staff wellbeing.
The management team had clearly defined roles and responsibilities, which helped ensure accountability and good governance. Managers effectively monitored risk and performance, and took action to address any issues identified.
The provider worked well with other professionals to ensure people’s care was well coordinated and effectively delivered. Professionals who worked with the service spoke highly of the skills of staff and the management team.