Focus Support Limited

Updated 15 February 2019

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 22 January 2019. It was announced and was carried out by one inspector. We gave the registered manager 48 hours' notice because the location is a small service and we needed to make sure the relevant staff and information would be available in the office.

We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. Prior to the inspection we looked at the PIR and all the information we had collected about the service. This included previous inspection reports, information received and notifications the registered manager had sent us. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to tell us about by law.

As part of the inspection we spoke with four of the seven people who use the service, the registered manager and three members of staff. We received feedback from three relatives. We requested feedback from 16 community professionals and received responses from three. We also requested feedback from 16 members of staff and received responses from six.

We looked at two people's care plans, daily notes, monitoring records and medication sheets. We saw five staff recruitment files, the staff training matrix and the staff supervision log. We reviewed a number of other documents relating to the management of the service. For example, management audits, policies, incident forms, meeting minutes, compliments and concerns records.

Updated 15 February 2019

Focus Support Limited provides personal care to people living in their own homes so that they can live as independently as possible. At the time of our inspection there were seven people receiving support with personal care. They were living in two supported living houses. The provider supports others in the community who do not receive help with personal care. However, this inspection and report only relates to the seven people receiving the regulated activity of personal care. Those people not receiving personal care are outside the regulatory remit of the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Where people live in supported living accommodation their care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate the supported living premises people live in and this inspection only looked at their personal care and support provision.

At our last inspection in September 2016 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.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good.

People were treated with care and kindness. They were consulted about their support and could change how things were done if they wanted to. People were treated with respect and their dignity was upheld. This was confirmed by people and the relatives who gave us their views. People were encouraged and supported to maintain and increase their independence.

People were protected from the risks of abuse. Risks were identified and managed effectively to protect people from avoidable harm. Recruitment processes were in place to make sure, as far as possible, that people were protected from staff being employed who were not suitable.

People received care and support that was personalised to meet their individual needs. They received effective care and support from staff who knew them well and were well trained. A community professional thought staff had the knowledge and skills they needed to carry out their roles and responsibilities.

People knew how to complain and knew the process to follow if they had concerns. People's rights to make their own decisions were protected. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the supported this practice.

Where people were potentially being deprived of their liberty, the service knew to make the relevant commissioning authorities aware. This was so that commissioners could make applications to the Court of Protection for the appropriate authorisations.

People's right to confidentiality was protected and their diversity needs were identified and incorporated into their care plans where applicable.

People benefitted from a service which had an open and inclusive culture and encouraged suggestions and ideas for improvement from people who use the service and staff. Staff were happy working for the service and people benefitted from staff who felt well managed and supported.

Further information is in the detailed findings in the full report.