- Homecare service
Royal Mencap Society - Rotherham and Sheffield Domiciliary Care Agency
Assessment report published 31 October 2025
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Date of assessment 08 September 2025 to 25 September 2025.
Royal Mencap Society - Rotherham and Sheffield Domiciliary Care Agency provides both a supported living and home care service. This report relates to the assessment of the supported living service.The supported living service provides housing and personalized support to help individuals with disabilities or long-term conditions live as independently as possible in their own homes within the community. The supported living services mainly supported people with a learning disability or autism. We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. 'Right support, right care, right culture' is the guidance CQC follows to make assessment and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
At the time of our inspection of supported living, there were 29 services across the Sheffield and Rotherham region for people who were receiving a regulated activity from the provider.During our inspection, we visited 10 of the services and found most people were supported to manage risks to their safety and well-being as staff had a good awareness of their needs.At the last inspection, we rated this service as ‘Good’. Following this assessment, the rating remains ‘Good’.
Accidents and incidents were reviewed regularly and action taken to minimise risks going forward. Systems to support people with their medicines were in place, which enabled people to receive these safely.Staff received training in all areas of their role and had regular supervision to support their work and development. Care records contained guidance regarding how to provide people’s care safely and in line with their preferences. Staff told us they felt supported and valued in their roles.For one of the services, concerns were raised around the safe management of medicines. We found medicines were unlocked and accessible. For 1 person we found out of date eye-drops and their barrier cream had no date of opening. We found gaps in bowel monitoring records, which if not effectively monitored could increase the person’s risk of seizures.We also found gaps in the records of food texture checks, water temperature checks, bed rails and mattress checks. Inspectors also had concerns around fire safety at the service, due to night-time staffing ratios and the accessibility of the service in the event of an emergency. However, the area operations manager provided immediate assurances with an action plan to rectify the concerns found during the visit. This included prompt referrals to external agencies for support around fire safety, ensuring the correct checks were being carried out and further audits and competency checks were being carried out on medication administration to ensure the safety of the people living at the service. At the time of the inspection, the local authority were aware of some concerns raised and were working with the service to ensure consistent and safe practice was being carried out.
People's experience of this service
People were positive about the support being provided at the supported living services. People told us they felt happy and safe at the service. One person told us, “I love living here, the staff are nice to me and make me laugh.” Relatives told us staff were responsive to any concerns for their loved ones and shared this information promptly. One relative commented, “I know [person] is in safe hands there, whenever there’s an incident I’m always kept in the know."
The staff knew people’s needs well and centred their care and support around them. The service kept people involved in the community and encouraged independence when appropriate. One relative told us, “[Person] is always out and about enjoying life with the support of staff, I couldn’t be happier for them.”
Professionals were positive about their working relationship with the service. One professional told us, “I have a positive working relationship with the management team – they are responsive and personable. There have been no barriers to building rapport as professionals.” Another professional told us they observed staff kindness during their visits. “I have always been treated with kindness and respect. I have observed staff supporting a person with managing/maintaining nutrition and following SALT plans – this was done professionally and accurately. The staff appear to be person-centred in their practice.”