Amethyst Care & Support Group Limited

Updated 29 September 2022

The inspection

We carried out this performance review and assessment under Section 46 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act). We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements of the regulations associated with the Act and looked at the quality of the service to provide a rating.

Unlike our standard approach to assessing performance, we did not physically visit the office of the location. This is a new approach we have introduced to reviewing and assessing performance of some care at home providers. Instead of visiting the office location we use technology such as electronic file sharing and video or phone calls to engage with people using the service and staff.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by 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. This service also provides care and support to people living in ‘supported living’ setting’s, 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 for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

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 the service is small, and people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

Inspection activity started on 20 September and ended on 22 September. We visited the people on the 21 September 2022.

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 annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

This performance review and assessment was carried out without a visit to the location’s office. We used technology such as video calls to enable us to engage with people using the service and staff, and electronic file sharing to enable us to review documentation. We visited three people who use the service on the 21 September.

Updated 29 September 2022

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.

About the service

Amethyst Care and Support Group Limited is a supported living service providing support to people living in their own homes or flats. 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. At the time of the inspection there were four people receiving personal care.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.

Right Support

People were provided with a service that was safe for them to use and for staff to work in. Service quality was reviewed, and changes made to improve people's care and support when required. This was in a way that best suited people. There were well-established working partnerships that promoted people's participation and reduced their social isolation. They had choices, followed their interests and hobbies and did not suffer from social isolation.

Right Care

People received responsive, person centred care and were supported with their needs that were regularly reviewed and recorded in their care and support plans. There were enough suitably trained, recruited and supervised staff who supported people to live in a safe way and enjoy their lives. Any risks to people and staff were assessed and monitored. Staff understood people's health needs and provided them with access to community-based health care professionals, as well as supporting them appropriately. People were protected by staff from nutrition and hydration risks and they were supported to choose healthy and balanced diets that also met their likes, dislikes and preferences. The premises were adapted to people's needs. Transition between services was based on people's needs and best interests. Complaints, concerns, accidents, incidents and safeguarding issues were reported, investigated and recorded. Trained staff safely administered medicines to people.

Right culture

The service had a warm, welcoming and friendly atmosphere with people enjoying the way staff gave them care and support. The staff we observed were caring and compassionate. Many positive interactions took place between people, staff and each other. Staff observed people's privacy, dignity and confidentiality. People were encouraged and supported to be independent. The management was transparent with an honest, open and positive culture. The provider's vision and values were clearly defined, and staff understood and followed them. Staff were aware of their responsibilities, accountability and were prepared to take responsibility and report any concerns they may have. People did not experience discrimination against them, and their equality and diversity needs were met.

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.

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 03 February 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection of a newly registered service. We inspected to give the provider a rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.