Community Independence Service

Updated 4 December 2021

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

One inspector carried out the inspection. An assistant inspector supported by making calls to people and staff.

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. The registered manager was on maternity leave and the service was currently being managed by an acting manager.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service short notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider, registered manager or acting manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 12 October 2021 and ended on 19 October 2021. We visited the office location on 15 October 2021.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since it had registered. 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 one person who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager, acting manager, an occupational therapist, an independence support assistant and two independent living support workers. We received feedback from five professionals who had worked with the service. We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and one person’s 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.

Updated 4 December 2021

About the service

Community independence Service (CIS) provides reablement and rehabilitation services for people in their own homes to promote their daily living skills and independence. It is an occupational therapy led service. At the time of the inspection 55 people used the service. 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. At the time of our inspection three people were receiving support with personal care.

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

There was a highly positive culture at CIS with a strong ethos for quality care. The service was consistently well-led and positive feedback was received about the registered and acting manager. People were extremely grateful to have received support from CIS and staff were proud to work at the service. Professionals felt the service was a valuable resource in the local community.

Robust quality assurance processes were in place and there was a great emphasis on continual improvement. There were clear roles and responsibilities within the service which supported highly effective outcomes for people.

A comprehensive holistic assessment of people's needs meant their individualised goals were identified and support was aligned with these. Outcomes for people were often better than expected and people enjoyed an enhanced quality of life following the input of CIS.

The registered and acting manager recognised that the on-going development of staff skills, competence and knowledge was central to ensuring high-quality care. Staff spoke positively about their role and felt well supported to carry out their roles and responsibilities effectively, so people received care and support in-line with their needs and wishes.

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.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. People received a service that was exceptionally personalised and supported people to make choices and develop their independence. We saw people had been supported to move into their own homes and enjoy a meaningful and fulfilled lifestyle. The service had an exceptionally person-centred culture and welcomed feedback.

Strong partnerships with other agencies and health professionals had been established. Staff who worked at CIS worked collaboratively with them to ensure people received highly effective joined up care.

People were supported to be safe. Staff supported people to take medicines safely. Staff were safely recruited, and turnover was low. Robust infection control procedures were in place and followed current national guidance. People were enabled to take positive risks which maximised control over their care and support.

The team were proactive in identifying and implementing creative ways to ensure people were supported to live as independently as possible. People were treated with kindness and compassion. People's right to privacy was respected by the staff who supported them, and their dignity was maintained. People were supported to express their views and be actively involved in making decisions about their care and support needs.

Staff were committed to delivering inclusive personalised care and support. Care records in place were person-centred and focused on progress people were making towards independence.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 10/10/2018 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on when the service registered with us.

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.