Background to this inspection
Updated
13 January 2023
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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
Registered Manager
This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was announced.
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 registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 6 December 2022 and ended on 14 December 2022. We visited the location’s office on 06 December 2022.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we held about the service and the provider, such as notifications. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us. We sought feedback from the local authority. We also requested feedback from Healthwatch to obtain their views of the service. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. 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 2 people using the service and 3 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 7 members of staff including the registered manager, operations manager, care coordinator, care staff and a senior member of staff.
We reviewed a range of records. This included 2 peoples’ care records and risk assessments 3 staff files in relation to recruitment, accident and incidents, falls analysis, IPC audits, quality assurance records and other documentation relating to the management of the service were reviewed.
Updated
13 January 2023
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 assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
At the time of the inspection, the location did not care or support for anyone with a learning disability or an autistic person. However, we assessed the care provision under Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture, as it is registered as a specialist service for this population group.
About the service
Assisted Lives is a domiciliary service that provides personal care and support to people in their own homes. The domiciliary care agency is registered to provide a service to people living with mental health, dementia, eating disorders, sensory impairments, physical disabilities and people living with a learning disability or Autism. At the time of our inspection there were to 22 people using 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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Right Support
Peoples experience of using the service was positive, they told us they felt safe and cared for from staff that were trained to meet their needs Staff received training in medicines, but required further competency testing to meet current guidance and ensure best practice. Staff had been trained in safeguarding and abuse and were aware of how to report concerns and said they would be listen to and acted upon.
People had detailed care plans that identified more complex needs and how best to support them effectively. Risks to people were assessed and there were plans in place to mitigate risks.
The provider had systems and processes in place to recruit staff in a safe way and there were enough staff to meet people's needs. The provider followed best practice in relation to infection control and prevention and management of risks relating to COVID-19.
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.
Right Care
People were supported by staff who were caring and compassionate, promoted independence and worked in partnership with outside agencies to ensure the best outcomes for people. They were treated with dignity and respect and received a service that could be flexible to meet their changing needs. The provider involved people in the planning and reviewing of their care packages and respected people's choices to make unwise decisions. People could contact the registered manager at any time.
People had not raised concerns about the care they had received but understood the process and felt confident that they would be listened to. The provider had assessed people's communication needs and guidance was given to staff on how to support them.
Right Culture
People were supported by a registered manager and staff team they knew well. Staff spoke positively about management support and their roles and were motivated to ensure the best outcomes for people they cared for. Staff attended monthly conference calls and received regular supervisions. The registered manager had an open door policy which encouraged staff to visit the office to share information.
The provider had quality systems and monitoring in place but recognised these required developing further. The provider understood their legal responsibilities and when to be open and honest when things go wrong and worked in partnership with other agencies.
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 October 2020, this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.