Background to this inspection
Updated
31 July 2019
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 Care Act 2014.
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.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.
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.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with one person who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with three members of staff, the registered manager and one senior care worker.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at further information for recruitment files.
Updated
31 July 2019
About the service
Parkside (Aldershot and District Learning Disability) is a charitable organisation which offers a wide variety of support to people with learning disabilities. These services include a day centre, social clubs, fitness groups, well–being groups and a domiciliary care agency. The 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. The domiciliary care agency is registered for personal care and currently provides a one to one service to three people who live with families or independently. These people receive support to live in their own homes. This support is focussed on meeting people's personal care and/or daily living needs.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People received a service that was safe, effective, caring, responsive and well led.
Systems were in place to keep people safe from the risk of harm and abuse. People’s needs were met by suitable numbers of staff who knew them well. People received their medicines as prescribed and were protected from the risk of infection. Staff were not officially checked for their competency in medicines administration.
We have made a recommendation about recording the completion of staff medicine competency checks.
People using the service received planned person-centred care and support that was appropriate and inclusive for them. The service worked closely with other health professionals to ensure people’s health needs were met.
People were treated with kindness and respect and staff spoke fondly about them. People’s privacy and dignity were respected, and they received personalised care which was responsive to their individual needs.
People enjoyed a range of activities which they chose to do. People had support plans in place which covered a range of information about them, their life histories, preferences, likes and dislikes and their support needs. The provider sought feedback from people and their families to improve the service.
The registered manager had a sound overview of the service and had effective systems in place to monitor safety and quality.
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 service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published 7 January 2017)
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.