We carried out a review of the data available to us about Community Spirited 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 Community Spirited, you can give feedback on this service.
Community Spirited is a domiciliary care agency providing care and support to people living in their own homes who have a range of needs. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of the inspection five people were receiving personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were happy with the care they received and felt the service was run well. A clear management structure was in place. Feedback about the service was sought from people, their relatives and staff. Quality assurance systems were in place to assess monitor and improve the service.
Appropriate safeguarding procedures protected people from the risk of abuse. There were enough staff to meet people's needs and they had been recruited safely. Individual and environmental risks were managed appropriately. People received their medicines safely and as prescribed.
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 sought people's consent and supported people to make choices about their care.
Staff received appropriate training and support to enable them to carry out their role effectively.
Staff treated people with kindness and compassion. Staff had developed positive relationships with people and their relatives and knew what was important to them. People were treated with respect and dignity. Staff encouraged people to remain as independent as possible in their daily routines.
People received personalised care which met their specific needs, Care plans were clear, detailed and person-centred, which guided staff on the most appropriate way to support them. A complaints procedure was in place, which ensured concerns were investigated and acted upon appropriately.
Where required, arrangements were in place to support people in a dignified manner at the end of their life.
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 12 July 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.
The inspection was conducted between 1 and 6 June 2017 and was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice of our inspection as it was a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure key staff members would be available.
The service was run by the registered provider, who also acted as the manager. 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.
Legislation designed to protect people’s rights was not always followed when people’s care was being planned, although care staff did seek verbal consent from people before providing care and acted in the best interests of people.
People felt safe and trusted the staff who supported them. Staff understood their safeguarding responsibilities and knew how to prevent, identify and report abuse. Staff recruitment practices were robust and helped ensure only suitable staff were employed. There were enough staff to support people; they were reliable and arrived on time.
Risks relating to the environment or the health and support needs of people were managed effectively and respected people’s independence. Medicines were given safely by staff who were trained and competent.
Staff were knowledgeable and skilled, although one experienced staff member had not completed the service’s induction programme. They were also supported appropriately in their work by managers.
Most people’s meals were prepared by family members, but staff encouraged people to maintain a healthy, balanced diet and took action when people were at risk of weight loss. Staff monitored people’s health and supported them to access healthcare services when needed.
Staff were kind, caring and compassionate. People spoke positively about the relationships they had built with staff, which they valued and appreciated.
Staff were discreet and unobtrusive when working in people’s homes; they protected people’s privacy and involved them in decisions about their care.
The provider was committed to providing high quality care that put people at the heart of the service. People consistently told us they received highly personalised care and support that met their individual needs.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. The provider sought and acted on feedback from people to improve the service. There was a suitable complaints policy in place but nobody had had cause to complain.
People told us the service was well-led and said they would recommend it to others. Staff were motivated and enjoyed working at the service. They took pride in making a positive impact on people’s lives.
There was a quality assurance process in place that focused on people’s experiences to continually improve the service.
There was an open culture and links had been developed with community groups to the benefit of people.