Background to this inspection
Updated
15 April 2020
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
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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 it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 20 February 2020 and ended on 21 February 2020. We visited the office location on 20 February 2020.
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. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with four people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff including the provider, registered manager, a senior coach and a coach.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and 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.
Updated
15 April 2020
About the service
TESS CIC is a care agency providing personal care to 28 people who were living with a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder, mental health conditions, sensory impairment. The service is provided for adults aged 18 or older and is provided in Spalding, Grantham, Lincoln and Stamford.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
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.
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.
The provider was dedicated to helping people reach their potential. They provided opportunities to learn employable skills as well as supporting people to live their daily lives. People were supported to develop friendships and relationships.
People were enabled to take part in activities of their choice. The support was able to be provided flexibly to help people access events and activities that were outside of their normal support times. People using the service and their relatives used words like, reliable, friendly, amazing and helpful when describing the care and support they received.
There were enough staff to meet people’s needs and to ensure people received care from a small number of staff who knew their needs well. Staff had been safely recruited and had received all of the training and support needed to provide safe care to people. Staff had regular meetings with the provider and registered manager to discuss the service and quality of care provided.
People were supported to be as independent as possible with their medicines, with prompts and encouragement from staff. They were also encouraged to keep their homes clean and tidy and staff had received training in how to reduce the risk of infection to support people with this activity.
People’s independence with their meals was supported. People were encouraged to plan their own menus on a weekly basis and staff supported them to shop and where needed cook the food. No one was at risk of malnutrition or choking but staff were aware of how to support people with these risks.
People had received an assessment when they started to use the service and care plans were developed to support staff to meet people’s needs. Monthly meetings were held with people to discuss their care and if any changes were needed.
The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of care provided. They used feedback from people using the service to drive improvements and had set up a TESS CIC Council so people had a voice about developments they would like to see. The provider linked with other organisations to improve the quality of care provided and to ensure people had the opportunity to access events in the local community.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection.
The last rating for this service was Good (published 1 August 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.