4 February 2016
During a routine inspection
Thera East Midlands is a domiciliary care agency which is registered to provide people with personal care. The service operates in Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire and supports around 350 people with learning disabilities living independently, or in communal ‘supported living’ services where staffing support is available to people 24 hours a day.
We inspected the service on 4 February 2016 and spent time at the head office in Grantham. We also visited two local supported living services, one in Derbyshire and one in Lincolnshire. The inspection was unannounced although, before entering the two supported living services, we established that the people living there were happy for us to come into their home.
The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQC to manage the service. Like registered providers (‘the provider’), 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.
CQC is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act, 2005 (MCA) and to report on what we find. Although the provider had delivered training in this area, some staff appeared to lack understanding of what might constitute an illegal deprivation of liberty under the MCA.
Staff demonstrated they were aware of the assessed risks and preventive strategies within each person’s support plan and used them to provide effective support in the least restrictive way. Staff also knew how to recognise signs of potential abuse and how to report any concerns.
Staff worked together in a friendly and supportive way. Staffing levels were planned around people’s needs and preferences and people were receiving the hours they were entitled to.
The provider ensured staff received a range of core training and encouraged them to study for advanced qualifications.
Staff worked closely with local healthcare services to ensure people had access to any specialist support required. The management of people’s medicines was in line with good practice and national guidance.
Staff knew people as individuals and provided warm person-centred support. People were treated with dignity and respect and were supported to eat and drink in a way that reflected their individual needs and wishes.
People’s personal support plans were written in a person-centred way and were understood and implemented by staff. The provider encouraged people to exercise as much control over their own lives as possible and ensured people’s lifestyle preferences were met through a rich variety of individual and group activities.
The provider had a strong commitment to giving people opportunities to get involved in the running of the service. People were also encouraged to raise any issues and concerns. Formal complaints were managed effectively.
The provider used a range of audit and quality monitoring systems to ensure the service was being delivered effectively in a way that met people’s needs and wishes. Systems were also in place to ensure significant incidents were reviewed, to reduce the likelihood of them happening again in the future.