Background to this inspection
Updated
12 June 2021
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
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 inspector visited the service on 21 May 2021 and the Expert by Experience made telephone calls to relatives on 24 May 2021.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community and specialist housing.
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 and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with one person who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff including the provider and registered manager.
We looked at three people's care records to see how their care was planned and delivered, including pre-assessment records and risk assessments. Other records we looked at included, accident and incident records, safeguarding, fire safety procedures, complaints and compliments, staff scheduling, management of medication and the provider's audits, quality assurance, infection control procedures and overview information about the service.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at safeguarding and quality assurance records.
Updated
12 June 2021
About the service
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community and specialist housing. It currently provides a service to adults with learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder. Four people used the service at the time of our inspection.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Relatives and people told us they felt safe with the staff who supported them.
Staff had regular safeguarding training and knew about the different types of abuse. Staff understood their responsibilities in relation to protecting people from the risk of harm. Where risks to people had been identified, risk assessments were in place.
People received their medicines when they needed them. Staff were very knowledgeable about people's changing needs.
People were supported by staff who were well trained and competent in their role. People were assessed before they used the service to ensure their needs and preferences could be met.
Staff understood the importance of ensuring people's rights were understood and respected.
People and their relatives told us they felt well cared for by staff who treated them with respect and dignity and encouraged them to maintain relationships and keep their independence for as long as possible.
Where people lacked capacity, 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's communication needs were assessed and understood by staff. People were provided with information in a format which met their needs.
Staff liaised with other health care professionals to ensure people's safety and meet their health needs.
Staff spoke positively about working for the provider. They felt well supported and they could talk to management at any time, feeling confident any concerns would be acted on promptly. They felt valued and happy in their role.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were working towards consistently meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture.
Right support:
People were supported to be independent and have choice and control. Improvements are required to ensure peoples voices such as reviews being conducted.
Right care:
Care was delivered in a way which meant people's human rights were respected.
Right culture:
Antoine Care were working with management and staff at all levels to continually improve the culture of the service. Staff were aware of the organisations visions and values which were centred around supporting people to live meaningful lives.
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 09 January 2019)
Why we inspected
We received concerns in relation the management of safeguarding incidents. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of Safe and Well-Led only. We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern.
We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. Please see the Safe and Well-Led sections of this full report.
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.