66 Bradstocks Way

Updated 28 October 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

This inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

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 the registered manager would be present in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 obtained feedback from three members of staff. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

Both people using the service were unable to provide us with verbal feedback. We spoke with two people’s relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager and we reviewed a range of records. These included care records for two people. We looked at two 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. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with two professionals who regularly visited the service.

Updated 28 October 2021

About the service

66 Bradstocks Way is a domiciliary care service providing personal care to children aged from 13 to 18 and people living with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. The CQC only inspects where people receive personal care, which is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. Two people received the regulated activity of personal care at the time of our inspection.

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

The service was extremely responsive to people’s needs and wishes. This was reflected in multiple examples of the service’s creativity in supporting people and their families during the pandemic. The service promoted reasonable adjustments in innovative ways to encourage people’s independence. People’s relatives told us that staff went over and above the call of duty and people said this made a difference to their lives.

People’s relatives were delighted with the kindness and thoughtfulness of staff, which exceeded their expectations of how people would be cared for and supported. They said staff went over and above providing care so satisfactory that they couldn't ask for anything more. Relatives told us the support their family members received improved their well-being. Relatives consistently referred to the registered managers and staff as kind and caring people. Relatives told us they valued their relationships with the staff who supported them and the support provided often exceeded what they had requested.

People received safe care from staff who had been trained to protect people and identify signs of abuse. Risk assessments were implemented and reflected the current level of risk to people. Staff understood their responsibilities to report any concerns and followed the provider's policies in relation to safeguarding and whistleblowing.

There were enough staff to keep people safe and appropriate arrangements were in place for emergency staff cover. Recruitment processes were designed to ensure only suitable staff were selected to work with people.

Staff managed medicines consistently and safely. People and their relatives told us people received their medicines at the times they needed them, and they were happy with the support they received.

People were provided with have maximum choice and control of their lives. Staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service promoted this practice.

People chose the food and drink they preferred and were supported to eat healthily. People had detailed plans to help staff and health professionals provide the care and support they needed to remain healthy and manage any existing health conditions.

The registered managers led their team by example, showing strong, inclusive and innovative leadership that focused on enhancing the service and creating positive outcomes for people.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and staff reflected on their practice to identify and implement changes when required.

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.

Right support: People's choice was maximised, and they were supported to develop more control and independence.

Right care: Care was person-centred and promoted people's dignity, privacy and human rights.

Right culture: Ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensured people lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives.

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 13/11/2019 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was the first inspection of the service.

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.