We carried out a review of the data available to us about Steps 2 Limited on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Steps 2 Limited, you can give feedback on this service.
Steps 2 Limited provides personal care and support to people in their own homes. It covers the geographical area of the Worthing and surrounding area. Personal care is provided to people with a learning disability, people with mental health needs and people living with autism. As well as providing personal care to people the provider supports people with social, recreational activities. At the time of the inspection five people were supported with personal care.
At our last inspection we rated the service 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.
People said they felt safe with the provider’s care workers who had a good awareness of the importance of protecting people. Risks were assessed and there were clear procedures for care workers to follow to ensure people were safely supported. Medicines were safely managed. Checks were made on the suitability of new care workers to work in a care setting. Care workers followed procedures to prevent the spread of infection. Reviews of care and incidents took place.
Care workers were supported well and had access to a range of training courses including nationally recognised qualifications in care.
People’s nutritional needs were assessed and people were helped with food and drinks. Health care needs were assessed and the provider made referrals to health services where this was needed. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and care workers supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. The provider had a good knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and made appropriate referrals to the local authority when people did not have capacity and whose freedom was restricted for their own safety.
Care workers treated people with kindness and respect. People were involved in decisions about their care and their independence was promoted. Care workers ensured people’s privacy was upheld.
People’s needs were comprehensively assessed and care plans were of a high standard reflecting people’s needs, preferences and choices. Health and social care professionals viewed the service as providing person centred and responsive care. People’s communication needs were assessed and pictures, mood boards and signage was used to involve people in decision making.
The service was well led and was responsive to the challenges it faced. The registered manager and provider had a clear vision of the service provision as well as plans to develop it. The provider ensured care workers were supported to develop their skills and knowledge. There was a system of checks and audits regarding the safety and quality of the service provided.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.
Steps 2 Limited is a small domiciliary care service providing support to people in their own homes in Worthing and the surrounding area. The service supports people with a learning disability, people with mental health needs or people on the autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of our visit, they were supporting four people with personal care.
The service had a registered manager in post who is also the registered provider. They had been registered since October 2011. 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.
People told us they felt Steps 2 Limited provided a safe service. Staff understood local safeguarding procedures. They were able to speak about what action they would take if they had a concern or felt a person was at risk of abuse. Risks to people had been identified and assessed and information was provided to staff on how to care for people safely and mitigate any risks.
People and relatives spoke positively about the support they received from the service and records reflected that there was sufficient staff to meet people’s needs. The service followed safe recruitment practices. People’s medicines were managed safely.
Staff felt confident with the support and guidance they had been given during their induction and subsequent training. Staff also told us they were satisfied with the level of support they were given from the management team. Supervisions and appraisals were consistently carried out for all staff supporting people.
People were encouraged to be as independent as possible and to be involved with determining the care they received. Staff understood the requirements under the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and about people’s capacity to make decisions.
Staff spoke kindly and respectfully to people, involving them with the care provided. Staff had developed meaningful relationships with people they supported. Staff knew people well and had a caring approach. People were treated with dignity and respect.
People received personalised care. People’s care had been planned and individual care plans were in place. They contained information about people’s lives, including their personal histories. They provided clear guidance to staff on how to meet people’s individual needs. Relatives were involved in reviewing care plans with the management team.
Staff were vigilant to changes in people’s health needs and their support was reviewed when required. If people required input from other health and social care professionals, this was arranged. Staff often supported people with their healthcare appointments.
People’s views about the quality of the service were obtained informally through discussions with the registered manager and formally through satisfaction surveys. Relatives were also asked for their feedback and this was positive.
During the inspection we found the registered manager open to feedback. People, relatives and staff told us how the management team were open and approachable and quick to respond to any requests.
During our visit the registered manager discussed with us whether the service that they provide to people in their homes needed to be registered with the Care Quality Commission. The services currently provided support to people in the community who did not need personnel care. We looked at records and spoke to people to assess the care and support that would be provide if personal care was provided in the future.
During our visit we spoke with two people who used the service and one member of staff on the telephone and the registered Manager. We looked also looked at records which included care files of people who used the service, personnel files of employees.
Comments we received from the people we had contact with were positive. People told us they were happy with the service and that the staff were helpful. People told us that staff helped people to maintain their independence and respected their privacy and dignity.