Background to this inspection
Updated
29 January 2020
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
This inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to children and young people living in their family homes.
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
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.
What we did before 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. We contacted Healthwatch to gather information. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. 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.
The children and young people using the service were unable to communicate their views with us. We talked with four relatives about their experience of the care provided to their family members.
During the inspection
We spoke with eight staff members including the registered manager, senior resource workers and resource workers. We reviewed a range of records. This included three children and young people’s care records. We looked at three 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 continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
29 January 2020
About the service
South Tees Home Support Service is a domiciliary care agency providing support to children and young people living in their family homes. At the time of inspection the service was supporting eight children and young people under the age of 18.
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 children and young 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 children and young people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. Children and young 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 consistently kind and caring. One relative said, “The service is brilliant.” Professionals working closely with the service gave very positive feedback. One professional told us, “My experience of using their service was excellent. They clearly know the children well that they support and they are very supportive and proactive in helping families avoiding a crisis.”
Risks to children and young people were assessed and measures had been identified to reduce those risks identified. Robust recruitment procedures reduced the risk of unsuitable staff being appointed.
Care plans were comprehensive and reviewed regularly. Children and young people had their care and support needs met by sufficient numbers of suitably trained staff. Staff were supported through regular supervision and team meetings.
Children and young 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. The staff team ensured children and young people’s rights were respected.
A range of play, social and recreational activities were provided within the community, the service base and family homes. Staff worked closely with other services to support young people on their transition into adulthood. Relatives knew how to complain if required but told us they had not needed to do so.
Quality assurance systems had been used to identify which aspects of the service worked well and where improvements may be needed.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that children and young 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. The outcomes for the children and young people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion.
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 requires improvement (published 14 February 2019). There was a breach related to the governance of the service. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
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.