Mencap York Domiciliary Care

Updated 17 October 2019

The inspection

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by two inspectors, one assistant 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.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in 24 ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently 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 is also a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

The service had three managers registered with the CQC. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with six people who used the service and five relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with two of the registered managers, two service managers, the family network manager, the volunteer coordinator, and nine support workers. We spoke with two health professionals. We visited five of the supported living houses.

We reviewed a range of records. This included six people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We spoke with the registered manager who was absent from work during the inspection.

Updated 17 October 2019

About the service

Mencap York Domiciliary Care provides personal care and support to people with a learning disability and/or Autism spectrum living in and around York. At the time of our inspection, the service supported 96 adults, across 25 supported living houses.

Mencap York Domiciliary Care also ran a 'community service', which provided domiciliary care and support to people living elsewhere in the community. This service supported five people.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service received planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that was appropriate and inclusive for them.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People told us they felt safe. Staff had knowledge of safeguarding procedures and felt confident to report any concerns. People received their medication as prescribed. There were some recording issues regarding medication that the registered managers were addressing. There was sufficient staff to meet people’s needs.

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

Staff supported people with their health care needs, the service supported people to have regular checks to meet their health needs such as medication check and health care checks. People were supported with their nutritional needs.

Staff were kind and caring and treated people with respect. People and staff had developed positive relationships. The service promoted the use of advocacy to ensure people were involved in decisions regarding their care. People’s independence was encouraged.

People were supported to participate in a large variety of activities. Staff encouraged and support people to maintain and develop relationships.

Governance systems were in place to monitor and improve the service. We received positive feedback from people, their relatives and staff regarding the management team.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 14 March 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.