Background to this inspection
Updated
24 May 2022
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 and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that 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
This inspection was announced. We gave a short notice period of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 08 April 2022 and ended on 27 April 2022. We visited the location’s office on 12 April 2022.
What we did before inspection
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to 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. We reviewed other information that we held about the service such as notifications. These are events that happen in the service that the provider is legally required to tell us about. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with nine people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We also completed observations of people interacting with staff at the office during an Easter event that had been planned by the provider. We spoke with eight members of staff including the registered manager, care managers, team leaders and trainers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included six people’s care records and medication records. 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.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at quality assurance records. We received feedback from 13 people’s relatives, nine staff members and four professionals who were involved in people’s care.
Updated
24 May 2022
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
About the service
Realise South West is a domiciliary care service which provides support to people in their own homes. The service operates within Somerset, Devon and Dorset.
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.
At the time of our inspection, the service was providing personal care to 43 people with learning disabilities, autism and assessed mental health needs.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture.
Right Support
Consent to care was sought in line with legislation. People were supported to have choice and control of their lives. People were involved in decisions about their care and support and their communication needs were met.
Care was person centred and promoted choice and independence. People were supported to achieve positive outcomes.
People were supported by staff who received an induction and ongoing training. People were supported with their healthcare needs. People were happy with the support they received. People’s care plans were detailed, and person centred.
Right Care
People felt safe. Risks to people were assessed and mitigated. Systems, processes and practices safeguarded people from abuse and avoidable harm.
People were protected by the prevention and control of infection measures in place. Lessons were learned and improvements were made, when things went wrong. Staff were recruited in a safe way.
People were treated with kindness and respect. People's privacy and dignity was respected. Staff were kind and caring.
Right culture
We received mixed feedback from relatives and staff regarding the leadership of the service and communication. The registered manager and provider had taken action to address this.
The registered manager listened to concerns and promoted a positive culture that was person-centred, open and inclusive. There was honesty and openness when things went wrong. Concerns and complaints were listened and responded to.
Staff support, teamwork and staff morale was generally good. Staff were Staff were positive about their work and clear about the aims of the service. There were effective quality monitoring systems in place.
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 changed it's location address with us on 17 July 2019 and this is the first comprehensive inspection since the change.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
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.