Archived: Mencap - West Sussex Domiciliary Care

Updated 17 October 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

A comprehensive inspection was carried out on 13 September 2018 and was announced. We gave the provided 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the location provides a domiciliary care service. This was to make sure there would be someone available in the office to facilitate our inspection.

The inspection team consisted of one 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 used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return (PIR) to complete the inspection report. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We looked at this and other information we held about the service. This included notifications. Notifications are changes, events or incidents that the service must inform us about.

We spoke with three people who used the service and to five relatives over the telephone. During the inspection we spoke with three care staff, three service managers and the registered manager. We observed the staff working in the office dealing with issues and speaking with people over the telephone.

After the inspection we received feedback from four health and social care professionals in areas such as speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and behavioural support.

We reviewed a range of records about people's care and how the service was managed. These included the care records for five people, medicine management, staff training, support and employment records, quality assurance audits, incident reports and records relating to the management of the service.

The service was last inspected on the 14 December 2015 and was awarded the rating of Good. At this inspection the service remained Good.

Updated 17 October 2018

Mencap West Sussex Domiciliary Care is a service that provides support to people who require assistance with personal care. The service specialises in supporting younger adults with a learning disability and associated conditions, such as epilepsy, who live in their own homes.

Not everyone using the service received the regulated activity. CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care. This includes tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.

The service also provides support to people living in shared accommodation, referred to as supported living services. At the time of the inspection, the service was providing support to 23 people.

We inspected the service on the 13 September 2018 and the inspection was announced. We gave the provided 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the location provides a domiciliary care service. This was to make sure there would be someone available in the office to facilitate our inspection.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence, or information, from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

Systems remained in place to protect people from abuse and staff received training in their responsibilities to safeguard people. Risks relating to people's care were reduced as the provider assessed and managed risks effectively.

People's medicines were managed safely by staff. People were supported by staff who had been assessed as suitable to work with them. Staff had been trained effectively to have the right skills and knowledge to be able to meet people's assessed needs. Staff were supported through observations, supervisions and appraisals to help them understand their role and ensure continuous personal development. The provider had ensured that there were enough staff to care for people.

People continued to receive care in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and staff received training on the Act to help them understand their responsibilities in relation to it. Staff considered people’s capacity using the MCA and people’s capacity to make decisions had been carefully assessed. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff remained kind and caring and had developed good relationships with people. Relatives told us their family members were cared for by staff and that they were comfortable in staff’s presence. One relative told us, “They all do their best for him. They know him. They’ve brought his character out and he’s always smiling.” Another relative told us about staff, “I would give them a platinum star.” Relatives confirmed staff were caring and looked after people well. People were provided with the care, support and equipment they needed to stay independent

in their homes.

People’s needs continued to be assessed and person-centred care plans were developed, to identify what care and support was required. One relative told us, “She’s happy and the family and I am happy with the staff. She’s having a nice time because the staff are making her life good.”

People were encouraged to live healthy lives and received food of their choice. People received support with their day to day healthcare needs.

People were informed of how to complain and the provider responded to complaints appropriately. The provider communicated openly with people and staff. Staff worked closely with professionals such as speech and language therapists, behavioural specialists and GP’s.

Quality assurance and information governance systems remained in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service. Relatives all told us that they were happy with the service provided and the way it was managed. One relative told us, “Well run? I should say so, definitely yes.”

Further information is in the detailed findings below.