9 May 2018
During a routine inspection
Sheffield City Council Learning Disability Domiciliary Care 136 Warminster Road is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care and support to eleven people in five ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live in their own home 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.
The service was registered on 5 April 2017.This is the service’s first inspection.
The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
The registered manager was present during our inspection. 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 safe using the service. Procedures were in place, which helped to ensure people were supported by care workers who understood the importance of protecting them from avoidable harm and abuse. Care workers had received training on how to identify abuse and report any concerns to the appropriate authorities.
At the time of the inspection, there were sufficient numbers of care workers employed, all with appropriate skills and knowledge to meet people's individual needs. The registered provider had a robust recruitment process that ensured only care workers deemed suitable to work with vulnerable people had been employed.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and care workers supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The service’s policies and procedures supported this practice.
Where people received support with their medicines, systems and processes were in place that ensured this was managed and administered safely and in a timely manner. Accurate records were maintained and reviewed.
People were supported to access healthcare professionals where this was required. Care workers had a good understanding of people's needs and were kind and caring. They understood the importance of respecting people's dignity and upholding their right to privacy.
People were supported to undertake activities of their choosing and to access the local and wider community.
Information was seen to be in easy read formats, for example, complaints and compliments, safeguarding policies and a who’s who record of staff employed in the service.
Systems and processes were in place to encourage, manage and investigate concerns or complaints.
People who used the service, and those who had an interest in their welfare and wellbeing, were asked for their views about how the service was run.
Regular audits were carried out to ensure the service was safe and well run.
We received positive feedback from the staff we spoke with about the registered manager and the management team who were said to be approachable and supportive.
Staff said they thought the Learning Disability Domiciliary Care Service at 136 Warminster road was a supportive organisation with clear values.