Derby DCA

Updated 22 February 2019

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 17 January 2019 and was unannounced. The inspection was undertaken by one adult social care inspector.

Before the inspection the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the PIR and other information we held about the service. This included feedback from the local authority and past reports and notifications. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

During the inspection we spoke with two staff members and the registered manager. We also spoke with a social worker but were unsuccessful in our attempts to contact people who used the service we were also unable to use the Short Observational Framework for Inspection (SOFI). SOFI is a way of observing care to help

us understand the experience of people who could not talk with us. We looked at three care records and medicine administration records. We reviewed two staff members' recruitment, training and supervision records. We also checked records relating to the management of the service including quality audits.

Updated 22 February 2019

Derby DCA is registered to provide personal care and support to people in their own homes and specialise in caring for younger adults with learning disabilities. People's care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people's personal care and support. The service currently supports 15 people in properties within the community. The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

The inspection took place on 17 January 2019 and was unannounced.

The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People were protected from the risk of abuse at staff were aware of safeguarding practices. Risks to people were identified and managed appropriately, and accidents and incidents were recorded so lessons could be learnt and the quality of the service improved. Staff carried out safe infection control practices and medicines were stored and administered in line with best practice guidelines.

Pre- assessment were carried out before people moved in to the service to ensure that their needs could be met. Care plans and activities were also person centred.

There were a sufficient number of staff to meet people's needs and staff had received appropriate recruitment checks. Staff were up to date with mandatory training and received regular supervision. Communication between staff was effective. Staff respected people's privacy and dignity. People were treated in a kind, caring and respectful way by staff.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People were supported to make healthy informed choices around meal times and to be as independent as possible.

People were able to express their views and supported to make decisions around their care. Those people who wished to discuss their end of life wishes had them accurately recorded

People had access to healthcare professionals and specialist teams who were part of a person's review process. Feedback was gained from people, relative and staff on a regular basis in order to act on suggestions to improve the service. People felt the manager was approachable.

People and relatives knew how to raise a complaint if needed. Robust audits carried out the registered manager and quality team identified any issues in the service and these were resolved in a timely manner. There was a close partnership working with stakeholders and other organisations. The registered manager made the Commission aware of all notifiable incidents. These are events that the Commission should legally be made aware of so that we can monitor the level of risk at a service.