Background to this inspection
Updated
24 February 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.
Service and service type
This service provides care and support to people living in 3 ‘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.
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. We also asked the provider to set up a meeting of people who used the service to meet with us.
Inspection activity started on 26 January 2023 and ended on 9 February 2023. We visited the location’s office on 31 January and 1 February 2023.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. 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
We visited the office and met with 6 people who used the service to get their feedback about the care provided. We also met with 3 staff and the registered manager. We had phone contact with 2 relatives and emails from another 2 relatives of people who used the service. We had email contact from 4 staff. We also received an email from a professional.
We reviewed a range of records whilst at the office. This included 3 people's care records and selected medicine records. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures and audits were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. They sent us additional information as requested.
Updated
24 February 2023
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
Quinn Domiciliary Agency Ltd is a supported living service providing personal care to 9 people who lived in shared houses in the community. Support is provided to people with a learning disability and autistic people
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 told us the service enabled them to have a good quality of life. Staff focused on people’s strengths and promoted what they could do, so people had a fulfilling and meaningful everyday life. Staff supported people to take part in activities and pursue their interests.
Staff supported people to have the maximum possible choice, control and independence. Staff supported people to make decisions, in line with best practice guidance. Staff gave people time to communicate their views, using their preferred communication method.
The service supported people in a holistic way which promoted their wellbeing. Staff enabled people to access health and social care support when needed. Staff supported people with their medicines in a way that promoted their independence and achieved the best possible health outcomes for them.
Right Care
People received kind and compassionate care. Staff treated people with respect and dignity. They knew people well and responded to their individual needs.
The service had enough staff with the right skills and experience to meet people’s needs and keep them safe.
Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. The service worked well with other agencies to keep people safe. Staff had training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it.
People who had individual ways of communicating, such as body language, sounds, Makaton (a form of sign language), pictures and symbols could interact comfortably with staff and others involved in their care. Staff had the necessary skills to understand them.
People’s care and support plans reflected their range of needs and this promoted their wellbeing and enjoyment of life. Staff had a range of information to know how to support people in a person-centred way.
Right culture
People led inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviour of the management and staff. The whole service placed people’s rights, wishes and aspirations at the heart of everything they did.
People were supported by staff who understood best practice in relation to the wide range of strengths, impairments or sensitivities people with a learning disability and/or autistic people may have. This meant people received support that was tailored to their needs.
Staff evaluated the quality of support provided to people, involving the person, their families and other professionals as appropriate. The registered manager and senior staff had good systems in place to understand what was happening in the service. They were visible across the service, which minimised the risk of closed cultures developing.
People’s quality of life was enhanced by the service’s culture of improvement and the desire to make changes which improved people’s lives.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Why we inspected
We undertook this comprehensive inspection to assess that the service was applying the principles of Right support, right care, right culture.
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for the service was good, published (29 September 2017).
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.