Care & Support Solutions

Updated 1 August 2023

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

An inspector and an Expert by Experience carried out this inspection. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

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

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 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 13 June 2023 and ended on 13 July 2023. We visited the location’s office on 29 June 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 1 person and 5 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We reviewed a range of records. This included 3 people's care records and 3 medicine administration records, with accompanying documentation. We spoke with 5 members of staff, including the registered manager (who was also the nominated individual) and support staff. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

Updated 1 August 2023

Care & Support Solutions is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to people in their own homes. The service provides support to older people, people with physical disabilities and people with mental health conditions. At the time of our inspection there were 13 people using the service.

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.

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

People received kind and caring support from staff who knew them well. Staff treated people with dignity and respect. People’s independence was protected and promoted.

Medicines were managed safely. Risks to people were assessed and addressed. Staffing levels were monitored and safe recruitment processes were in place. The provider had effective infection prevention and control systems.

Staff were supported with training, supervision and appraisal. People’s needs were effectively monitored on an ongoing basis. 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.

People received personalised support based on their assessed needs and choices. Staff supported people to communicate effectively. The provider had a clear complaints process in place.

Governance systems were used to monitor and improve standards. Feedback was sought and acted on. The provider worked effectively with other professionals to help people achieve good care outcomes.

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 8 September 2018).

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Recommendations

We have made a recommendation about training.

Follow up

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