Background to this inspection
Updated
24 June 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. The new management team had only been in place a few weeks before our inspection.
Inspection team
The inspection team comprised of one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission; however, the manager had submitted an application at the time of inspection.
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 25 May 2021 and ended on 10 June 2021. We visited the office location on 25 May.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. 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.
During the inspection
We spoke with three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the manager and nominated individual. We reviewed a range of records that included two people’s care records, two people’s medicines records and training data for staff. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision.
After the inspection
We reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies, procedures and quality assurance records. We sought feedback from outside professionals who were involved in the care of people who were supported by Unity Plus staff.
Updated
24 June 2021
Unity Plus Healthcare Leeds is a domiciliary care service that provides care and support to adults in their own homes. At the time of the inspection the service provided support to six people. 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
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
This service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.
Where a person appeared to have issues with their capacity to make certain decisions, the service noted this in their risk assessments and care plans. In addition, MCA assessments were completed from the service with input from their social workers., however we found not all these assessments had been completed. We found quality assurance systems had only just begun being implemented by the new management team. The manager was aware of this and was working with professionals to ensure these were completed. We have made a recommendation regarding people’s consent to care and treatment.
Staff did not always receive supervisions; however, the new management team had put a plan and dates in place to ensure these were completed
People received the care they needed to keep them safe and well. Staff used risk assessments and care plans to support people with their individual care needs. Staff complied with good infection control practices when supporting people such as wearing personal protective equipment (PPE). People received their medicines safely. We found recruitment checks were in place and staff had received a full induction before supporting people on their own. Staff were trained in safeguarding and were aware of what to do if they suspected abuse.
Staff knew people well and supported them based on their needs, preferences and choices. Staff developed good working relationships with people and their relatives. The manager ensured staff had the time they needed to provide care effectively. The service kept in regular contact with people and their relatives to check they were happy with the service provided. The service supported staff by providing transport to and from people’s homes. Staff and relatives told us if they had any concerns, they knew how to make a complaint.
Rating at last inspection
This is the first inspection since being registered in January 2021.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection due to concerns raised around recruitment, quality of care and safeguarding. The service also had not been inspected before. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from these concerns.
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.