Ethicare (Durham) Ltd

Updated 19 February 2021

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.

As part of CQC’s response to care homes with outbreaks of coronavirus, we are conducting reviews to ensure that the Infection Prevention and Control practice was safe and the service was compliant with IPC measures. This was a targeted inspection looking at the IPC practices the provider has in place.

This inspection took place on 11 February 2021 and was announced.

Updated 19 February 2021

This inspection took place on 23 November 2017 and was announced.

This service provides care and support to people living in three ‘supported living’ settings. Supported living settings support people to live in their own home as independently as possible. People’s 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 in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

At the last inspection in October 2015, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

People told us they felt safe at the service. People had risk assessments in place to cover various aspects of their daily lives. People were encouraged to be independent and to take everyday risks. There was guidance for staff on how to manage identified risks to people.

People told us they were happy with the service provided. Sufficient experienced and trained staff were deployed to ensure people’s needs were met. Staffing was flexible and additional support was provided where necessary. People were supported by staff who were trained to carry out their roles effectively. Staff received mandatory training as well as training which was tailored to the needs of those they supported. All staff received an induction and an on-going programme of supervision and appraisal. Staff told us they felt well supported.

Staff were extremely knowledgeable about the people they supported, their likes and dislikes and interests. Appropriate arrangements were in place for the safe administration and storage of medicines.

People were protected from abuse and harm. Staff told us they would be confident to raise any concerns they had and they would be acted upon. An effective recruitment and selection process was in place to ensure people were cared for by suitable staff. The provider carried out monthly health and safety checks to ensure people lived in a safe environment.

Accidents and incidents, although very few, were accurately recorded and reported and any lessons learned were shared with staff. The service learned from any mistakes and used these as an opportunity to raise standards.

There was a culture of openness and honesty and staff felt able to raise concerns or suggestions.

People's rights were protected by staff who under stood the Mental Capacity Act and how this applied to their role. Nobody we spoke with said they felt they had been subject to any discriminatory practice for example on the grounds of their gender, race, sexuality, disability or age.

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.

From our observations and feedback from people living in the home we could see staff were extremely caring, considerate and gentle in their approach to people. Interactions between staff and people were very positive and reassuring. Communication flowed easily and familiarity was evident.

People's privacy and dignity was maintained and staff went the extra mile to support people in areas of people's lives that were important to them. The quality of care we observed was outstanding, this was because everyone was treated equally, their care was focussed on them as individuals and staff provided care in a

meaningful way.

Relatives and people were involved in the planning of their care. Information was provided in easy read format to assist people in understanding the care available to them. The provider had an effective complaints procedure in place and people who used the service and relatives were aware of how to make a complaint.

People had 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.

People were supported in maintaining a healthy and balanced diet. People were involved in the preparation of meals. People were supported to maintain good health and had access to health and social external professionals. People who used the service, their relatives, the staff team and health care professional gave us positive feedback about the way the service was managed.

Activities were developed around people’s interests. People were supported to maintain relationships, access the local community and go on holidays.

Staff were passionate and proud to work at the service and felt valued and motivated. An experienced registered manager was in place and understood the importance of monitoring the quality of the service and reviewing systems to identify any lessons learnt. The service regularly consulted with people, relatives and staff to capture their views about the service.