Affinity Trust - South West

Updated 2 April 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. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

The inspection was carried out by one Inspector.

Service and service type:

Affinity Trust – South West is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes, flats and seven supported living houses.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means they 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:

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection site visit activity started on 5 February 2020 and finished on 6 February 2020. We visited the office location on 5 February. On 6 February we visited people in their homes and spoke with support workers.

What we did before the inspection

We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

During the inspection

We visited four people who used the service. We spoke with six members of staff as well as the registered manager and divisional director.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care and medication records, three of which were current records kept in people’s homes. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 2 April 2020

About the service

Affinity Trust – South West is a domiciliary care service providing personal care and support for people living in their own homes and seven supported living houses within the Mendip area. At the time of the inspection they were providing personal care for 17 people.

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.

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

People received care and support that was safe. The provider had a robust recruitment programme, which meant all new staff were checked to ensure they were suitable to work with vulnerable people. All staff had received training in recognising potential abuse and how to raise concerns. Prospective new staff were matched to individuals with the same hobbies and interests.

Medicines were managed safely. Staff were trained in administering medicines and their competency checked regularly.

People received effective care and support that was focused on the person. There was a consistent staff team which meant people had regular support workers whom they knew well. Staff received mandatory training as well as training specific to people’s individual needs. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of people’s needs and how they preferred to be supported.

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.

People were involved in the planning and review of the support they received. People either wrote their own support plans or contributed ideas of how they would like their care and support delivered.

People were supported by caring staff who respected their independence and supported them with dignity and respect. People told us staff were caring and they had built meaningful relationships with them.

People received responsive care and support which was personalised to their individual needs and wishes and promoted independence. There was clear guidance for staff on how to support people in line with their personal wishes, likes and dislikes. Records showed people decided on what they did on a day to day basis.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service provided, ensure staff kept up to date with good practice and to seek people’s views. Records showed the service responded to concerns and complaints and learnt from issues raised.

People and staff spoke positively about the registered manager. Staff said they felt valued and supported by the registered manager and provider.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensured 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 new skills and become more independent.

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 22 February 2019 and this is their first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the date of registration.

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.