Background to this inspection
Updated
11 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 was planned to check 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 inspection took place on 31st October 2017 and was announced one day before to make sure management and staff were available due to the way the service operated. The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector.
The service had sent us the Provider Information Return (PIR), prior to the date of the inspection. The PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. Before the inspection we reviewed previous inspection reports and other information we held about the service including notifications. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send to us by law.
We spoke with the registered manager and two staff members on duty. One person using the service who was available to speak with had no verbal communication. We spent time observing care practices and interactions between staff and the one person using the service in their own home.
During the inspection we visited the provider's head office and spoke with the registered manager and a senior member of the organisation.
We received comments from a professional and spoke with a relative. We looked at care records of two people being supported, training and recruitment records for two staff members. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service.
Updated
11 January 2018
The inspection took place on 31 October 2017. We gave the provider 24 hours' notice to ensure someone would be in the office to assist the progress of the inspection. The service was previously inspected on 06 August 2015 and rated good.
Number 73 is a domiciliary care agency located in Bognor Regis, West Sussex. The agency provides personal care to people with a learning disability and/or physical disability and supports people to live independently in their own homes. The care ranges from a few hours of support a week up to 24 hour care for people in supported living services. A supported living service is one where people live in their own home and receive care and support in order to promote their independence. People have tenancy agreements with a landlord and receive their care and support from the domiciliary care agency. As the housing and care arrangements are separate, people can choose to change their care provider without losing their home. They provide support to adults of all ages At the time of the inspection visit the service was supporting two people with personal care.
People were supported to live a full and active life, offered choice and staff had safeguards in place to support people to experience holidays, outings and a range of activities to go ahead.
Comprehensive risk assessments were in place and support plans managed risks so people were safe. Risk assessments were regularly reviewed and also when people’s needs changed and the staff approach was flexible to allow for changes in circumstances. The staff ensured people were protected from the risk of harm.
The service had a robust recruitment process to help ensure people employed were suitable to work with vulnerable people.
Care and support plans included person centred daily observation records that identified the care and support interventions that had been provided and any issues around care and support for the person being supported.
There were enough staff to support people doing the things they wanted to do and to keep them safe. Staff were motivated and aware of their responsibilities. Staff told us they loved their jobs and felt they had all the support they needed to carry out their role. They told us, “We get a lot of support and always encouraged to share information or ask if we are not sure about anything” and “My induction and training really helped me to get into the role. It was a team effort.”
People were protected from avoidable harm. Staff received training in safeguarding adults and were able to demonstrate that they knew the procedures to follow should they have any concerns.
Systems were in place to safely manage people's medicines. Staff were trained in the safe administration of medicines and kept relevant and accurate records.
People's human rights were protected as the registered manager ensured that the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were followed.
People were supported to do things they enjoyed and keep in touch with those people who were important to them.
People had a good choice of diet and were supported to eat and drink when it suited them, as well as being offered choice which reflected their personal preferences.
People were supported to maintain their health and well-being and had regular access to health and social care professionals.
There were robust procedures in place to monitor, evaluate and improve the quality of care provided. The registered manager understood the requirements of CQC and sent in appropriate notifications. The registered manager made sure there was a focus on continuous development of the service.