Supporting Choice

Updated 7 March 2020

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

Supporting Choice is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes.

The service had a manager registered with the CQC. A registered manager 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

The inspection was announced; we gave the provider 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and we wanted to be sure the registered manager would be available to speak with us when we visited.

Inspection activity started on 16 January 2020 and ended on 23 January 2020. We visited the location offices on both of these days.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since it registered. We sought feedback from the local authority and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used this information to help plan our inspection.

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return before 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 the two people who used the service and their relatives. We also received feedback from four health and social care professionals. We spoke with the registered manager, who was also the provider’s nominated individual, and three members of care staff. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We reviewed both people's care records, including their medication administration records and daily notes. We looked at three staff's recruitment, induction, training and supervision records as well as other records relating to the management of the service.

After the inspection

We continued to review evidence from the inspection and seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 7 March 2020

About the service

Supporting Choice is a domiciliary care service providing personal care to people living in their own homes. The service specialises in supporting younger adults and older people with a physical disability, sensory impairment, mental health needs, dementia, a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder. At the time of our inspection two younger people were using the service and received 24-hour care and support in their own homes.

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 received exceptionally person-centred care and support to meet their needs and improve their quality of life. Staff were highly motivated, innovative and person-centred in the way they planned and delivered people’s care and support and encouraged people with activities. Very detailed care plans were regularly reviewed and updated to make sure staff had accurate information and guidance on how best to meet people’s needs. Staff worked hard and went the extra mile to make sure people received the care and support they needed and to improve their quality of life.

Staff were safely recruited and trained to meet people’s individual needs. The registered manager made sure enough suitable, experienced staff were available to support people.

Risks were assessed and managed by staff who had been trained to protect people from abuse and the risk of avoidable harm.

Staff completed a range of training and were very well supported by the registered manager who nurtured and encouraged them to build their confidence and continually learn and develop in the role.

People received effective care. Staff worked closely with people, relatives and professionals to make sure they provided effective care. They continually reviewed how people’s needs were met and were proactive in making suggestions or seeking additional advice, guidance and support when needed.

People shared positive and caring relationships with the staff who supported them. Staff were kind, caring and respectful. They provided person-centred care to help maintain people’s privacy and dignity and promote their independence.

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. Staff knew people’s communication needs and used accessible information to help them understand choices and make decisions.

There had not been any complaints about the service. People felt able to speak with staff or management if they did ever have any issues or concerns. The registered manager was extremely approachable. They promoted a person-centred culture and focussed on making sure staff felt valued. The registered manager continually monitored the service to make sure people were happy with the support provided and it safely met their needs.

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

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 14 February 2019 and this was the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on when the service was registered.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.