Archived: Selby Domiciliary Care Agency

Updated 23 July 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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in flats and 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 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 a short period notice of the inspection because some of the people using it could not consent to a home visit from an inspector. This meant that we had to arrange for a ‘best interests’ decision about this.

Inspection activity started on 12 June 2019 and ended on 8 July 2019. We visited the office location on 12 and 14 June 2019.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We contacted the local authority commissioning and safeguarding teams and professionals who work with the service. 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 this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We visited three supported living services to meet everyone who received a regulated care service. Not everyone could tell us directly about their experiences and others did not wish to engage. We spent time observing, sitting and talking with people who did, and this gave us an insight into their care. We received feedback from another three people who visited the office to share feedback. We spoke with 13 members of staff including the registered manager, two service managers, two assistant service managers, and eight staff. We telephoned two relatives to gather their feedback about the service.

We reviewed a range of records including care records for three people and associated medicine records. We checked records relating to the management of the service, including a sample of policies and procedures and staff training and support. We looked at systems and processes used to monitor service quality.

Updated 23 July 2019

About the service

This service is a domiciliary care agency. The service supports people living with a learning disability and autistic spectrum disorder in their own homes or a supported living environment.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. The Care Quality Commission (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. Nine people were receiving personal care in supported living settings at the time of this inspection.

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 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

People, relatives and staff were positive about the way the service was led. People benefitted from effective managements systems and an established management team, which promoted their wellbeing and safety.

They were asked what worked well and what changes they would like to see. The provider and the registered manager checked the quality of care provided. Managers worked with other agencies such as social housing landlords and healthcare professionals to make sure people’s needs were met and drive continuous improvement.

Care and support were based on people’s care preferences and considered how staff could minimise identified risks while also supporting people’s individual freedoms and choices. 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 supported this practice.

People spoke positively about the care and support they received. They told us they liked the staff and said they were kind and caring. People we visited were comfortable with staff who supported them. Staff spoke with people in a respectful way and supported people to maintain their dignity.

Staff received appropriate training and support to provide effective care. Care plans provided detailed information about people’s needs to support staff to provide person-centred care. People knew who to speak with if they had any worries or concerns. Staff knew how to help people who became anxious or upset including the best way to support people with their health appointments.

People followed their interests and took part in activities including in the wider community. Where appropriate, people had access to education and work opportunities.

The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting 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.

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 14 December 2016).

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.