Supporting Solutions Ltd

Updated 30 September 2020

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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

Two inspectors and an assistant inspector carried out this inspection.

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 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, people are often out, and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us. We also needed to check the current Covid-19 status for people and staff at the service.

Inspection activity started on 18 September 2020 and ended on 21 September 2020. We visited the office location on 19 September 2020.

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 including their action plan, which detailed the improvements they planned to make and by when. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with six people who used the service and two relatives on the telephone about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including the registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at one staff file in relation to recruitment and all staff training records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service including quality reviews and policies and procedures.

Updated 30 September 2020

About the service

Supporting Solutions Ltd is a domiciliary care service. At the time of our inspection 28 people received personal care and support. Support was provided for people living in Crich and the surrounding villages. Not everyone using this service received the regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also take into account any wider social care provided.

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

People were supported to have their medicines when these were needed. However, improvements were needed to ensure all information about the how to provide this support was recorded. We have made a recommendation about medicines management.

People felt safe when being supported. The staff knew how to protect people if they suspected they were at risk of abuse and how to report concerns. Risks had been identified and staff understood how to support people to reduce risk and protect them from potential harm, without restricting their rights. Recruitment checks were completed to ensure where new staff were employed they were of good character and sufficient staff were available to meet people's support needs and provide their care.

People had been involved with developing their care plan, which included details of how they wanted to be supported. 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.

Staff received an induction when they started working in the service and training to ensure they understood how to provide care for people safely. People maintained responsibility for their own health and staff knew when people’s health changed and when they needed support to remain well. People were assisted to maintain their preferred diet safely.

People received care from a small team of staff who they had developed good relationships with. People complimented the staff team for the care and support they provided, and staff knew what was important to people. People’s independence was promoted, and their privacy and dignity were upheld.

People received personalised care and support and had a personalised care plan which recorded how they wanted to be supported. People knew how to make a complaint and were encouraged to give regular feedback about the service they received.

Infection control was managed well and the provider had the necessary guidance available to respond to coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Quality monitoring systems had been developed to help ensure a safe service was maintained. The staff and management team were clear about the values of the service and the purpose of the services provided.

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 Inadequate (published February 2020) and there were multiple breaches of regulation.

The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

This service has been in Special Measures since February 2020. During this inspection the provider demonstrated that improvements have been made. The service is no longer rated as inadequate overall or in any of the key questions. Therefore, this service is no longer in Special Measures.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.