Background to this inspection
Updated
3 September 2019
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
The inspection was carried out by one inspector and two Experts by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. One Expert by Experience had a visual impairment and they assisted the inspection on-site. The second Expert by Experience made telephone calls to people the following day.
Service and service type
Beacon Extracare is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats and specialist housing. This service provides care and support to people, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.
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
This inspection was unannounced.
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. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return [PIR]. 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 of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with seven people who use the service and five relatives. We spoke with three members of care staff, an administration worker, an IT worker, a representative of the provider and the Registered Manager.
We looked at two people’s care records, three staff recruitment records and records relating to the governance of the service. This included quality assurance audits, records of accidents and incidents and complaints made.
Updated
3 September 2019
About the service
Beacon Extracare is a domiciliary care service, which provides personal care for older people living in sheltered housing flats and within the community. People using the service are mainly blind or partially sighted with a sensory impairment, but may also experience Dementia, learning disabilities or Autism. At the time of the inspection 45 people on site and 32 within the community were receiving care.
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.
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 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 people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. 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
People were supported by staff to remain safe. There were enough staff available to people and people’s needs were attended to in a timely manner. Risk assessments were in place to minimise any potential risk to people’s wellbeing. Staff were recruited in a safe way. People received their medicines as expected.
Staff knew people’s needs. Staff received training and had been provided with an induction and felt able to approach the registered manager with any concerns. People were assisted to receive food and drinks by staff where required. People were supported to maintain their health.
People were supported to have choice and control over their lives and staff understood that they should support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff ensured that people’s privacy and dignity was maintained.
People's care plans reflected their needs and preferences and staff understood the care that people required. Complaints were dealt with appropriately in line with the complaints’ procedure.
Quality monitoring systems were in place. Feedback was taken from people and used to inform the service. People knew the registered manager and felt they were approachable.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that 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 people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
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. (Report Published 13 January 2017)
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.