Steps 2 Limited

Updated 4 December 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 was planned to check whether the provider was 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 inspection took place on 6 November 2018 and was announced. The inspection was carried out by one inspector. We gave the service 48 hours notice of the inspection visit because we needed to make arrangements to visit people in their own homes and to ensure care workers and the registered manager would be at the provider’s office.

Before the inspection we checked information that we held about the service provider. This included information from other agencies and statutory notifications sent to us by the registered manager about events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to tell us about by law. We 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.

During the inspection we visited two people in their homes accompanied by care workers. We spoke with both these people regarding the care and support they received and observed care workers proving assistance to people. We spoke with a relative of one person. Prior to the inspection we sent survey questionnaires to four people, four relatives, six care workers and six professionals to ask them for their views on the standard of care provided. We received responses from four people, four care workers and three professionals. We also spoke with two care workers and the registered manager.

We looked at the care plans and associated records for three people. We reviewed other records, including the provider’s internal checks and audits, care worker training records, care workers rotas, accidents, incidents and records of medicines administered to people.

Updated 4 December 2018

The inspection was announced and took place on 6 November 2018.

Steps 2 Limited provides personal care and support to people in their own homes. It covers the geographical area of the Worthing and surrounding area. Personal care is provided to people with a learning disability, people with mental health needs and people living with autism. As well as providing personal care to people the provider supports people with social, recreational activities. At the time of the inspection five people were supported with personal care.

At our last inspection we rated the service Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People said they felt safe with the provider’s care workers who had a good awareness of the importance of protecting people. Risks were assessed and there were clear procedures for care workers to follow to ensure people were safely supported. Medicines were safely managed. Checks were made on the suitability of new care workers to work in a care setting. Care workers followed procedures to prevent the spread of infection. Reviews of care and incidents took place.

Care workers were supported well and had access to a range of training courses including nationally recognised qualifications in care.

People’s nutritional needs were assessed and people were helped with food and drinks. Health care needs were assessed and the provider made referrals to health services where this was needed. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and care workers supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. The provider had a good knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and made appropriate referrals to the local authority when people did not have capacity and whose freedom was restricted for their own safety.

Care workers treated people with kindness and respect. People were involved in decisions about their care and their independence was promoted. Care workers ensured people’s privacy was upheld.

People’s needs were comprehensively assessed and care plans were of a high standard reflecting people’s needs, preferences and choices. Health and social care professionals viewed the service as providing person centred and responsive care. People’s communication needs were assessed and pictures, mood boards and signage was used to involve people in decision making.

The service was well led and was responsive to the challenges it faced. The registered manager and provider had a clear vision of the service provision as well as plans to develop it. The provider ensured care workers were supported to develop their skills and knowledge. There was a system of checks and audits regarding the safety and quality of the service provided.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.