Global Social Care Services

Updated 1 May 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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.

The inspection took place on 19 and 20 February and 8 March 2018 and was announced. The provider was given 24 hours’ notice because the location provides a personal care service to people in supported living settings and we needed to be sure someone would be in. One inspector carried out this inspection. At the last inspection in November 2016, the service was rated as ‘Good’ overall.

We usually ask providers to complete an annual 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. At the time of this inspection the provider had not been asked to complete a PIR. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

Before the inspection, we looked at the evidence we already held about the service including notifications the provider had sent us. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We also contacted the local authority to obtain their view about the service.

During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager and two people who used the service at the head office. On the third inspection day we visited one of the supported living settings and spoke to one more person who used the service. We reviewed three people’s care records including risk assessments and care plans and three staff records including recruitment, training and supervision. We also looked at records relating to the how the service was managed including medicines, policies and procedures and quality assurance documentation. After the inspection, we spoke with two relatives and two staff.

Updated 1 May 2018

Global Social Care provides care and support to people living in ‘supported living’ settings, 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. At the time of this inspection six people with learning disabilities were using the service living in two ‘supported living’ settings.

The inspection took place on 19 and 20 February and 8 March 2018 and was announced. One inspector carried out this inspection. At the last inspection in November 2016, the service was rated as ‘Good’ overall but we found the provider did not consistently record all quality checks of medicine records. During this inspection, we found improvements had been made.

There was a registered manager in post. 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 and relatives spoke positively about the service. The registered manager had systems in place to obtain feedback from people who used the service. The provider carried out various quality checks to make improvements on any issues identified. The registered manager had regular team meetings with the staff.

Staff knew about people’s care needs and about developing caring relationships. Each person had a named care worker who had overall responsibility for their care. The provider included people and their relatives in decisions about care. Staff described how they promoted people’s privacy, dignity and independence. Staff were knowledgeable about people’s equality and diversity needs and how to support people with their relationship needs.

Care records were personalised and contained people’s preferences and the goals they wanted to achieve. Staff were knowledgeable about providing person-centred care. People were able to engage in activities at home and in the community. The service had a complaints procedure and people and relatives knew how to make a complaint. The registered manager planned to discuss end of life care at people’s next care reviews.

Staff were knowledgeable about safeguarding and whistleblowing procedures. The provider had safe recruitment processes in place. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Risk assessments were done to mitigate the risks of harm people may face at home and in the community. Medicines were managed safely. People were protected from the spread of infection. The provider used accidents and incidents as a learning tool to improve the service and prevent a reoccurrence.

People and relatives told us the provider delivered effective care. Each person had an assessment of their care needs to ensure the provider could meet their needs. New staff received an induction and were offered ongoing training during their employment with the service. Staff were supported with regular supervisions. People were supported to eat a nutritionally balanced diet and to maintain their health. Staff were knowledgeable about obtaining consent before delivering care.

We have made one recommendation about the provider’s responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act (2005).