We carried out a review of the data available to us about Walsall Domiciliary Care Service on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Walsall Domiciliary Care Service, you can give feedback on this service.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People felt they were safe and staff cared for them appropriately. Staff knew how to escalate issues and concerns and were aware of potential risks to people when providing support. People received their medicines as they required. Staff used correct equipment, such as gloves and aprons when assisting people. Accidents and incidents were managed appropriately.
Staff received an effective induction and appropriate ongoing training. People felt staff supported their individual needs and requirements. People received food and drinks as required. Staff assisted people to maintain their health. People were supported in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People felt staff were kind and caring towards them. People were given choices and were able to make their own decisions as far as possible. Staff supported people to be independent and ensured people’s privacy and dignity was maintained.
People felt involved in the development of their care plans. Care plans were informative for staff and provided them with guidance regarding people’s needs and preferences and how they would like these to be met. A complaints procedure was in place and people knew how to raise concerns and felt these would be addressed.
People using the service and staff thought the service was managed well. The registered manager was described as approachable in the way they managed the service. Systems were in place to monitor the delivery of the service. Where issues arose action was taken to address these.
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 16 May 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.
Walsall Domiciliary Care is registered with the Care Quality Commission to provide personal care to people who wish to remain independent in their own homes. The service also provides a call alarm answering facility to some people. The agency provides services throughout Walsall and provides care for people with healthcare and social care needs. At the time of our inspection there were 111 people using the service.
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.
Appropriate measures were in place to keep people safe. Risks to people were assessed and staff knew how to reduce risks to people. Assessments of risk had been completed and staff had clear guidance on how to support people safely. Staff knew how to identify and correctly report suspected abuse.
The provider employed safe recruitment practices to make sure staff were suitable people to provide care. People were supported by adequate numbers of staff and received most calls on time.
People received the medicines they needed to maintain their heath.
People received support from staff who were skilled and knowledgeable about their care. Staff listened to people in order to understand their needs and wishes. People’s preferred ways to communicate were known to, and used by staff in order to ensure their decisions were understood and honoured.
People were routinely assessed to determine whether they required additional support with eating and drinking. If required, referrals to external healthcare professionals were arranged in order to support people’s well-being.
Staff were caring and supported people’s wishes and preferences regarding their care. Staff were aware of how different people wanted to be supported. Care was regularly reviewed to ensure staff were aware of people’s current requirements. People were supported to maintain their independence. Staff respected people’s dignity and privacy while providing care.
People received care from a consistent staff group whom they had built up a rapport with. People knew how to, and felt confident in raising issues or complaints with staff and the management team. The provider had a complaints process in place in order to progress and respond to matters raised.
People were happy with how the service was managed and saw the management team as visible and approachable. Records were well organised, accessible and kept securely. We found minor issues of improvement required in some records.
The registered manager was clear about areas of success and those that required development within the service. The provider used various audits to assess the standard of care and where improvements could be made. People’s views on the service were sought in order to drive improvements.