Archived: SAI Infinity Care

Updated 23 January 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This service provides a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats and specialist housing. It provides a service to older adults and younger disabled adults. SAI Infinity Care also provides care and support to people living in one ‘supported living’ setting, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

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.

We gave the service two working days’ notice of the inspection visit because it is small and the manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be in.

Before the inspection we looked at all the information we had about the service. This information included the statutory notifications that the provider had sent to CQC. A notification is information about significant events which the service is required to send us by law. We also used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

The Inspection site visit activity took place on 27 December 2017. Our inspector visited the office location to see the registered manager and care coordinator; and to review care records and policies and procedures. Our inspector also spoke with one person using the service and three care workers. On 27 December 2017 our Expert by Experience spoke with six people using the service and five relatives. After our inspection we received feedback from a social worker, a community nurse and a housing support office.

Updated 23 January 2018

This service provides a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats and specialist housing. It provides a service to older adults and younger disabled adults. SAI Infinity Care also provides care and support to people with learning disabilities living in one ‘supported living’ setting, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support. There were 18 people using the service at the time of our inspection.

We gave the service two working days’ notice of the inspection visit because it is small and the manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be in.

This inspection took place on 27 December 2017.

This was our first inspection of the service since it registered with us on 20 October 2016. However, the service was registered with us at a different location previously and we rated the service Good in all five key questions we ask of service during our comprehensive inspections, in March 2015.

There was a registered manager in post at the time of our inspection. 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.

The provider went the extra mile in reducing social isolation for people. The provider set up a weekly social club for people with learning disabilities. The provider put on a Christmas meal for people who would otherwise spend the day alone to come together and celebrate.

People were supported to achieve their dreams. The provider supported a person to gain employment in the company of their choice and supported other people to actively pursue hobbies such as singing and acting. The provider supported a couple to celebrate who recently became engaged at the supported housing scheme.

People were supported to do activities they were interested in. The provider spent much time planning activities based on people’s interests and people had individual activity programmes in place. The provider organised regular trips to view popular TV shows being filmed, theatre shows, holidays and so forth to provide them with a wide variety of choice as to how they spent their days.

People were safeguarded from abuse and neglect because the provider trained staff to understood abuse and their responsibility to protect people.

The provider identified, assessed and managed risks relating to people’s care well. The provider also managed risks relating to a person’s behaviour which challenged the service well.

The provider carried out recruitment checks on staff to ensure they were suitable to support people. There were enough staff deployed to support people safely. The provider managed people’s medicines safely and supported some people to manage their medicines themselves to help build their independence.

People received care in line with the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and staff understood their responsibilities in relation to this Act. The provider liaised with the local authority regarding an application to deprive a person of their liberty as part of keeping them safe.

People’s needs and preferences were assessed by the provider and people and their relatives were involved in the process.

Staff knew the people they supported well and understood the best ways to interact with and care for them. People were supported to live healthier lives and people received the necessary support in relation to eating and drinking.

The provider supported staff with training, supervision and annual appraisal.

The provider worked well with external organisations in providing joined-up care to people.

Staff were caring and supported people with dignity and respect. Staff understood people’s need for privacy. People were supported to maintain relationships with those who were important to them.

People were supported to be as independent as they wanted to be. The provider supported people to set up a committee to run the weekly social club. People campaigned each quarter to take on a new role on the committee and roles were decided through an election process.

People’s care plans were accurate and sufficiently detailed to provide information for staff to follow in caring for people.

The provider had systems to monitor, assess and improve the service which included gathering feedback from people about their care. The provider communicated openly with people and staff. The provider had a complaints procedure to investigate and respond to any complaints.

The registered manager and staff had a good understanding of their role and responsibilities. The provider had a clear vision regarding the purpose of the company, to make a difference to people’s lives and make them more meaningful and enjoyable, and this vision was shared by staff.