Background to this inspection
Updated
21 June 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
The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert 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.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes.
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 11 May 2023 and ended on 12 May 2023. We visited the location’s office on 11 May 2023 and 12 May 2023.
What we did before the inspection
We looked at all the information we held about the service including notifications. A notification is information about events that the registered persons are required, by law, to tell us about. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We checked information held by Companies House and we looked at online reviews. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with 4 people who use the service and 4 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 7 members of staff, including the registered manager. We reviewed a range of records. These included 4 people's care records, 4 staff files and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found and sought feedback from healthcare professionals involved with the service.
Updated
21 June 2023
About the service
Independence with Dignity Support Services is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care for to up to 25 people in their own homes. The service provides support to older people, young adults, autistic people, people with dementia, sensory impairments, learning disability or physical disabilities. At the time of our inspection there were 4 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.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Right Support:
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 registered manager told us their primary aim was to support people to achieve and maintain their independence with dignity. People were observed to be confident and relaxed in approaching and interacting with staff, and they felt comfortable and safe in their environment. People, their relatives and staff spoke positively about the service and the care provided.
The service had effective systems in place to ensure people's safety. People and their relatives told us they felt safe using the service. People received comprehensive assessments of their needs prior to commencement of care with the service. Recruitment processes ensured suitability of staff for their roles and the service had enough staff to meet people's needs.
Right Care:
People received care from staff who were familiar to them and knew them well. Staff engaged well with people, their relatives and external agencies involved in their care to ensure the best outcomes for people.
Right Culture:
The registered manager inspired confidence in the staff team and led by example. The registered manager worked closely with staff and people, ensuring close oversight of the service and any issues that arose. She understood her responsibilities to inform people or their representatives when necessary, and the service fostered a culture of openness and transparency where everyone involved felt valued, involved in decision making and listened to.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
This service was registered with us on 1 March 2022 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned comprehensive inspection as a newly registered service. This inspection was part of our scheduled plan of visiting services to check the safety and quality of care people received.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.