St Anne's Leeds Domiciliary Care 3 (DCA3)

St Anne's Leeds Domiciliary Care 3 (DCA3) is a supported living service providing personal care to people with a learning disability in their own homes. When we inspected the service there were 20 people receiving support. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

The Secretary of State has asked the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to conduct a thematic review and to make recommendations about the use of restrictive interventions in settings that provide care for people with or who might have mental health problems, learning disabilities and/or autism. Thematic reviews look in-depth at specific issues concerning quality of care across the health and social care sectors. They expand our understanding of both good and poor practice and of the potential drivers of improvement.

As part of thematic review, we carried out a survey with the deputy manager at this inspection. This considered whether the service used any restrictive intervention practices (restraint, seclusion and segregation) when supporting people.

The service used positive behaviour support principles to support people in the least restrictive way. No restrictive intervention practices were used.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Overall, medicines were managed safely. Action was taken at the time of the inspection to improve medicines records. People were safe from harm and supported by enough staff. Safeguarding systems and appropriately recruited staff supported this. People’s risks were safely managed. People were happy and felt safe using the service.

The provider assessed and monitored the quality of care. In the main, this was effective. However, we have made a recommendation about the need to fully review some medicines records. People and staff were asked for their views and their suggestions were used to continuously improve the service.

Staff were trained, skilled and well supported by the provider. Staff supported people to access healthcare and maintain good nutrition. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were respected, staff promoted their privacy and dignity and encouraged their independence in all aspects of life. People told us staff were caring and treated them well. Staff knew people well and used effective techniques to reassure people.

Staff were motivated and supported to provide person-centred care based on people's choices and preferences. Support plans were individualised and detailed. People had developed good relationships with the staff who protected their rights to lead a fulfilling life.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 13/09/2018 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection.

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.