1 November 2017
During a routine inspection
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. It provides a service to older adults and younger disabled adults. Not everyone using Care Designed for You receives regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection three people were receiving a personal care service.
At the last inspection in October 2015, the service was rated Good. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
The provider was an individual who also managed the service on a day to day basis. They provided the personal care and support on a daily basis, together with a small group of staff. The provider has informed us that they are considering changing their registration, to apply to register with CQC as a limited company. We are dealing with this outside the inspection process.
Feedback about the quality of care was positive and people and relatives reported feeling safe and well cared for. Risk assessments were in place and those we saw identified risks to the person and guided staff on how to minimise or appropriately manage those risks.
The provider and staff had received training in safeguarding adults and understood their responsibilities to identify and report concerns. Safe recruitment and selection processes were followed. There were sufficient staff deployed to meet people's needs. People continued to receive effective care from staff who had the skills and knowledge to support them.
Although staff were not currently supporting people with their medicines the provider was aware of best practice guidance about managing medicines safely in the eventuality this was required in future.
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 encouraged to eat a varied, nutritious diet where this was provided as part of the regulated activity. People benefited from caring relationships with staff who treated them with dignity and respect. People were involved in their care and assisted to maximise their independence.
Staff knew the people they were supporting well. Care plans detailed how people wished to
be supported and people and their relatives, where appropriate, were actively involved in making decisions about their care.
We have made a recommendation about the management of complaints, so people know they can refer their complaint to a free, independent service if they are unhappy with the provider’s investigation.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.