Background to this inspection
Updated
21 August 2021
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. We also used an interpreter with skills in the use of British Sign Language (BSL). This was so we could understand what people and staff told us.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats and specialist housing.
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 four days’ 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. This was as well as ensuring people could consent to us speaking with them.
Inspection activity started on 14 June 2021 and ended on 29 July 2021. We visited the office location on 29 July 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since registration. 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 spoke with four people who used the service with the help of a BSL interpreter. We spoke with four staff including the registered manager and the chief executive officer. We received feedback from two people’s relatives and three staff via email. We received feedback from two health professionals and also from Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.
We reviewed a range of records. We looked at two people’s care records and one staff file in relation to recruitment and supervision. We also looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including quality monitoring audits, incidents, staff training and supervision planning records and medicines administration records.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We asked to see various policies relating to safeguarding.
Updated
21 August 2021
About the service
ELY DIOCESAN ASSOCIATION FOR DEAF PEOPLE (Cambridgeshire Deaf Association) is a domiciliary care service providing personal care to people living in their own houses or flats. It provides a service to older adults and younger adults primarily living in the Deaf Community, but they may have dual diagnosis. At the time of the inspection 10 people were supported by 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’s care and support needs were totally centred on the person, and staff responded to these in a very individualised way. People’s lives were enriched by staff whose communication skills were innovative in opening up a world to people so they lived a fulfilling and meaningful life full of opportunities.
People’s care was compassionate, respectful, and staff were innovative in promoting independence at every opportunity. People had privacy when needed and their communications were listened to. People’s advocates ensured their choices were always acted on, and they helped uphold people’s confidentiality.
People and staff communicated with each other in a way which ensured equality and diversity was an embedded part of people’s lives. People told us how staff had an excellent understanding of treating every person equally well. Staff used reflective practice sessions and people’s life stories to help ensure every person’s life was filled with interests, pastimes and daily living tasks based on the person’s choices.
People were protected from harm, or the risk of this, by staff who knew how to identify and report any potential abuse or risks to people. One person told us, “I have my medicines three times a day. [Staff] prepare them for me and make sure I take them.”
Enough safely recruited staff with appropriate skills helped ensure people’s needs were met. Systems and staff training about infection prevention and control (IPC) meant any risks for spreading infections were minimised. Lessons’ were learned and shared amongst the staff team.
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. One person told us, “[Staff] show me different options for meals, but I choose what I am going to eat.” Staff received training in a range of subjects related to people’s care; staff knew people well by meeting their assessed needs.
Concerns were acted on before they became a complaint and compliments were used to identify what worked well; this helped ensure good practise was sustained. Process and policies were in place should any person require end of life care.
The registered manager understood their responsibilities. Staff were supported in their role to be open and honest by promoting the provider’s values. People had a say in how the service was run and managed. Quality assurance procedure and oversight of the service was effective in driving sustained improvements. The provider worked well with others involved in people’s care to help ensure their care was joined up.
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 31 May 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the date of registration with CQC.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
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.
service.