Archived: Potens Domiciliary Care Agency

Updated 23 January 2019

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.

This inspection took place on 17 December 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the location provides a domiciliary care service within supported living houses and we needed to be sure that someone would be available at the services head office.

The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector and one 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. The expert by experience telephoned people who use the service and their relatives on 14 and 17 December 2018. We were also able to visit two of the supported living homes.

We looked at all of the information that Care Quality Commission had received about and from, the service since the last inspection. This included notifications about issues that had happened in the service.

The registered manager had completed a provider information return. A provider information return is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what they do well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection we were able to speak to the registered manager, five staff, nine people using the service and six relatives. We also contacted other professionals for feedback about the service including the local authority.

We reviewed a range of documentation including six care plans, risk assessments, medication records, records for six staff, staff training records, policies and procedures, auditing records, health and safety records and other records relating to how the service is managed.

Updated 23 January 2019

We carried out this inspection on 17 December 2018. The inspection was unannounced.

This service was last inspected in April 2016 and was rated 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.

Potens Domiciliary Care Agency provides 24-hour support to people who have learning disabilities and or mental health needs. This service provides care and support to people living in five supported living settings, this type of support enables people in their own homes to be as independent as possible. People's care and 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. This service also provides an outreach service and provides support to 14 people living in their own homes within the community.

People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

Support plans were detailed and person centred. Risks to people's safety and well-being had been identified and plans put in place to minimise any identified risk. Medicines were managed safely and staff had the appropriate training to support people effectively.

Staff were recruited safely and then supported in their roles with induction, training, supervision and appraisal. Ongoing competency checks were also completed. There were adequate staff on duty to safely support the people receiving the service. Each supported living home had their own on call system in case of emergencies, this included the outreach service.

The provider had systems in place to ensure that people were protected from the risk of harm or abuse. We saw there were policies and procedures in place to guide staff in relation to safeguarding adults and whistleblowing.

Support plans showed that people's GPs and other healthcare professionals were contacted for advice about people's health needs whenever necessary. We saw the service had responded promptly when people had experienced health problems.

People who used the service that we spoke with all gave positive feedback about the support received. The service had a relaxed feel and people could move freely around their own homes as they chose. People were able to have control over their lives and participate in activities they enjoyed.

Policies and procedures were in place and updated, such as infection control, safeguarding, complaints, medication and other health and safety topics. The service had quality assurance processes in place including audits, staff meetings and quality questionnaires. The people and the relatives we spoke with had no complaints about the service.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.