We carried out a review of the data available to us about DALO 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 DALO, you can give feedback on this service.
About the service
DALO provides respite and holidays to young people with a learning disability . The respite service is provided at two properties in Hertfordshire that are owned and maintained by the provider. The service forms part of DALO Travel Limited who provide day opportunities and transport to support young people who are vulnerable to continue to develop their independent living skills after compulsory education. At the time of our inspection there were 33 people using the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Right Support
People's needs, preferences and wishes were met by a dedicated care staff team who knew the people they cared for well. People were supported in a way which promoted safety. Risk assessments were in place and reflected people's current needs.
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.
Right Care
Staff understood how to protect people from poor care and abuse. Staff had received training on how to recognise and report abuse and they knew how to apply it. People's care, treatment and support plans reflected their range of needs and staff knew people's needs well. The service had enough appropriately skilled staff to meet people's needs and keep them safe. Safe recruitment processes were followed. People received their medicines as prescribed and medicines were managed safely. Staff understood people's different communication support needs. Staff demonstrated an awareness and understanding of people's needs. Staff ensured people's privacy and dignity was respected and their independence promoted.
Right Culture
People and those important to them were involved in planning their care and managers evaluated the quality of care provided to people. The registered manager and staff promoted a caring culture, where providing person centred care was the focus of the service. Staff turnover was low, which supported people to receive consistent care from staff who knew them well. People were asked to provide feedback on the care provided and they had confidence in the registered manager to deal with concerns appropriately. Care staff felt supported in their roles and were provided with the opportunity to discuss any issues which they may have in an open and inclusive way.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was good (published 30 November 2019).
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
We undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe, effective and well-led only.
For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for DALO on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.
DALO provides respite and holidays to young people with learning disabilities in a supported living environment. The respite service is provided at two properties in Hertfordshire that are owned and maintained by the provider. The service forms part of DALO Travel Limited who provide day opportunities and transport to support young people who are vulnerable to continue to develop their independent living skills after compulsory education. At the time of our inspection there were 29 people using the service.
People’s experience of using this service
People told us people they were happy with the care and support they received because they felt safe and all their needs were met by kind and caring staff.
People praised the managers of the service and agreed that they were approachable, knowledgeable, fair and did their job well. The staff team worked well together and supported the registered manager.
The staff team was committed to providing a high-quality service and keeping people safe. They had undertaken training so that they were skilled and knowledgeable to effectively meet people’s needs. Staff understood their responsibilities to report any concerns.
Staff encouraged people to be as independent as possible and respected people’s privacy and dignity. Staff knew people well. Staff managed the risks to people’s health and welfare.
The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.
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.
People were given choices about the way in which they were cared for. Staff listened to them and knew their needs well. Care plans contained information about each person’s individual support needs and preferences in relation to their care and we found evidence of good outcomes for people. When people did not have the capacity to make their own decisions, staff maximised their involvement and made decisions in their best interests, in accordance with legislation.
Recruitment practices were safe and relevant checks had been completed before staff worked at the service.
People told us staff were able to meet their needs and were respectful of their individual preferences. People told us staff who supported them were kind and caring.
People received care and support from a small group of staff, which provided consistency.
The managers of the service actively sought the views of people and their relatives about the running of the service and they dealt promptly with any concerns that people raised.
The provider had systems in place to monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service provided.
More information is in the full report.
Rating at last inspection
At the last inspection we rated this service Good. The report was published on 31 May 2017.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor this service.
People experienced good care and support. They were supported to live safe, fulfilled and meaningful lives in the way they wanted to.
People were supported with healthy eating and to maintain a healthy weight, with specialist diets when required. People who needed assistance with meal preparation were supported and encouraged to make choices about what they ate and drank. The support staff we spoke with demonstrated knowledge of people’s care needs, significant people and events in their lives, and their daily routines and preferences. They also understood the provider’s safeguarding procedures and could explain how they would protect people if they had any concerns
Staff told us they really enjoyed working for the organisation and spoke positively about the culture and management of the service. Staff told us that they were encouraged to openly discuss any issues. Staff said they enjoyed their jobs and described management as supportive. Staff confirmed they were able to raise issues and make suggestions about the way the service was provided.
The registered manager had been in post since the service opened in 2016. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
The service was safe and there were appropriate safeguards in place to help protect the people who lived there. People were able to make choices about the way in which they were cared for. Staff listened to them and knew their needs well. Staff had the training and support they needed.
Staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s needs. Recruitment practices were safe and relevant checks had been completed before staff worked at the home. People’s medicines were managed appropriately so they received them safely.
People participated in a wide range of different social activities and were supported to access the local community. The registered manager and staff ensured everyone was supported to maintain good health. They took a very proactive approach to ensuring people's complex health needs were always met, and consistently ensured that when people needed specialist input from health care professionals they got it.
Staff were caring and always ensured they treated people with dignity and respect. They had a good understanding of the care and support needs of people using the service.
Staff were well supported with training, supervision and appraisal which helped them to ensure they provided effective care for people.
People and those important to them, such as their relatives or professionals were asked for feedback about the quality of the service.
The registered manager and staff knew what they should do if anyone made a complaint. Person centred care was fundamental to the service and staff made sure people were at the centre of their practice. Care plans focused on the whole person, and assessments and plans were regularly updated.
People's individual preferences, needs and choices were always taken into account by the caring and compassionate staff.
The service was well led. There was a clear set of values in place which all of the staff put into practice. The registered manager and administrator regularly visited the unit, to make sure the high standards of care were maintained. There was an open culture and staff said they felt well motivated and valued by all of the managers.