Archived: Birmingham Multi-Care Support Services Ltd

Updated 2 May 2019

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team: This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type: The service is a 'domiciliary care agency' providing care to people living in their own homes in the community including children and adults with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. Not everyone using Birmingham Multi-Care Support Services Ltd receives a regulated activity; The Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care'; help with tasks relating to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.

The service had a manager registered with the CQC. 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 24 hours' notice to ensure we would be able to access the office.

What we did: Inspection site visit activity started on 21 March 2019 and ended on 28 March 2019. We visited the office location on 21 March 2019 to see the registered manager and office staff; and to review care records and policies and procedures.

Before the inspection: We reviewed information we held about the service, to help inform us about the level of risk for this service. Providers are required to send us key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information is called a Provider Information Return and helps support our inspections. We also contacted the local safeguarding team and commissioners.

During the inspection: We reviewed two people’s care records and two medication administration records. We also looked at a selection of documentation in relation to the management and running of the service. This included quality assurance audits, complaints, accident and incident records, recruitment information for two members of staff, staff training records and policies and procedures.

We spoke with one person who used the service and two relatives. We spoke with three members of staff, a care coordinator, the deputy care services manager, the registered manager and provider’s nominated individual.

Updated 2 May 2019

About the service: The service provides support to people in their own homes including children and adults with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of our inspection, 22 people were receiving a regulated activity.

People’s experience of using this service: The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support in the following ways; promotion of choice and control, independence and inclusion. People’s support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

Staff had awareness of safeguarding and knew how to raise concerns. Steps were taken to minimise risk where possible to maintain people’s safety. Systems were in place to recruit staff safely. Staff felt supported and were equipped with the skills required to provide effective care and support.

Staff supported people to manage their medicines, access healthcare and maintain a nutritious diet. 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 service supported this practice.

People were supported by a small group of regular staff which provided continuity. Staff had developed relationships with people and knew them well; people received person-centred care as a result. Staff promoted people’s independence and treated them with dignity and respect.

People were involved in making decisions about their care. They were involved in reviews to ensure their care plans met their needs and supported them to achieve good outcomes. Staff supported people to access the community and chosen leisure activities.

There was an open and supportive culture shared by managers and staff. The service had undergone a period of change; throughout this uncertain time for staff the team worked together to support one another. The commitment to providing high quality care and support for people was evident. Systems were in place to monitor the quality and safety of care delivered.

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

Rating at last inspection: Good (report published 14 June 2016).

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.