Background to this inspection
Updated
10 September 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. 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
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.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses, flats and specialist housing. This service provides care and support to people living in a number of ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.
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
This inspection was announced. 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.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed any notifications we had received from the service. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to tell us about by law. We also reviewed any information about the service that we had received from external agencies.
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. 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. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
This inspection included speaking with two people, six relatives, two members of staff, two service managers and the registered manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and medication records. We looked at four 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 asked for further information following the inspection including the bed rail risk assessments and personal emergency evacuation forms for two people and these were received. We spoke with one professional who regularly visits the service. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
10 September 2019
About the service
Mencap - West Hampshire is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to 33 people in their own homes at the time of the inspection. It provides a service to adults who have a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder and younger adults. 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.
Services for people with learning disabilities and or autism are supported
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Staff were trained to a good standard and could request additional training. Peoples care, and support plans were person centred and detailed.
We received mixed feedback about staffing levels from people’s relatives, however from our review of staffing arrangements we found overall there was enough staff to meet people’s needs.
People were supported by staff who were kind, compassionate and caring and who understood their likes, dislikes and preferences. People were happy being supported by Mencap and told us they felt safe. They were positive about the support they received to access health care professionals to maintain their health and wellbeing.
The provider and the registered manager had effective governance systems in place to identify concerns in the service and drive improvement.
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.
Most employment checks were in place and staff were recruited safely.. The registered manager was responsive to our feedback and took immediate action to make improvements where required.
The service applied the principles and values consistently of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 7 February 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.