Northern Lifetime Limited

Updated 21 September 2022

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 one inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency with rehabilitation services. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 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 16 August 2022 when we visited the service's office and ended on 22 August 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection

We received feedback from six people who used the service and three relatives, about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager, a case manager, the service manager, one team leader and four support workers. We attempted contact with nine health and social care professionals who have experience of the service and we received three responses. We reviewed three people’s care plans and risk assessments. We reviewed two staff files to look at the recruitment, training and supervision records. We looked at the provider’s systems of governance to monitor the quality and safety of services provided.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 21 September 2022

About the service

Northern Lifetime Limited is a specialist agency which provides bespoke case management support to both adults and children with complex needs, often as a result of serious brain injury. Case managers work with people to set up and coordinate their rehabilitation, care and support needs. This is mainly funded by legal compensation claims. Northern Lifetime Limited oversee the recruitment process, training and performance management of support workers employed directly by the people using the service. The service is registered to provide personal care. At the time of our inspection there were 11 people receiving the regulated activities provided by the service.

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

The service was well run, and people who used the service were very happy with the care and support they received. The provider promoted a strong learning ethos within the organisation and staff demonstrated an enthusiasm for the people they supported and a willingness to continuously develop their knowledge and skills.

People were supported to achieve their goals and there was a strong focus on rehabilitation post injury. Comprehensive and detailed assessments were completed before people received care. Care plans were person focussed and gave a holistic view of how to the support the individual. People who used the service 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.

People consistently commented staff were caring and approachable. People were empowered to select their own care team and they had access to experienced case managers, who were qualified health and social care professionals. Diverse professional backgrounds meant the organisation was well-versed in navigating the various pathways of care to facilitate timely support from services available publicly or privately.

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 14 September 2020. This is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the date of registration.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.