We carried out a review of the data available to us about Nupath Care Northumberland on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Nupath Care Northumberland, you can give feedback on this service.
Helping Hands Specialist Care Services provides personal care and support to 60 people with complex needs, including brain injury, learning disabilities, autism or associated related conditions and/or mental health needs. 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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were treated with dignity, kindness and respect. Many compliments were received about the caring attitude of staff. People and their relatives had been involved in the planning and review of their care and told us they felt the service was safe.
People received personalised care that was tailored to meet their individual needs, preferences and choices. Staff supported people to make decisions relating to their care and to live their lives as they wished. A small number of care records were in need of some update, but this was being addressed.
Policies and procedures were in place for people and their representatives to raise concerns about the service if they needed to and these were dealt with appropriately.
Medicines were generally managed safely. Risk had been assessed and accidents and incidents recorded and reported appropriately.
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. We have made a recommendation about the recording of capacity assessments and best interest decisions made as they were not always in place.
The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain skills and become more independent.
Staff received suitable training although a small number of staff were a little behind. Refresher training was planned. Supervision sessions had not been carried out as regularly as it should for a small number of staff. This was being addressed by the registered manager.
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)
This service was registered with us on 11 November 2018 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned first inspection after the provider registered with the CQC.
Follow up:
We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.