Background to this inspection
Updated
15 October 2021
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 adult social care inspector.
Service and service type
This service is registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes through case management. Case management is a collaborative process of assessment, facilitation, care co-ordination, evaluation and advocacy. This enables individuals who have experienced life changing events to have the options and services to meet their complex health needs, ensuring they have access to the resources they require to live their best lives.
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
We gave the service notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 3 September 2021 and ended on 28 September 2021. We visited the office location on 8 September 2021.
What we did before the inspection
Before the inspection we requested a number of records to review before we visited the office. These included a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures and quality monitoring reports. We reviewed these before visiting the office. We also contacted people’s relatives and court appointed deputies to give them opportunities to share feedback with us. We received feedback from three relatives and three legal deputy trustees. We also contacted staff and received feedback from six of them.
We reviewed information we had received about the service since its registration. 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.
During the inspection
We visited the service’s office in Seaton and spoke with the registered manager who is also a director, the Human Resource (HR) manager and the associate technical team manager.
We reviewed further records. This included looking at the provider’s computerised care and HR system, one person’s care records and information relating to staff recruitment, staff supervision, staff training and quality monitoring.
After the inspection
We contacted health care professionals who regularly work with people supported by Circle Case Management Ltd and received a response from one of them.
Updated
15 October 2021
About the service
Circle Case Management Ltd is a specialist agency which provides bespoke case management support and advice to both adults and children with life changing injuries, including spinal cord injuries, acquired brain injury and complex orthopaedic injuries. They also work with adults and children who have sustained life changing disabilities as a result of clinical negligence. Case managers work with people to set up and coordinate their rehabilitation, care and support needs. This is mainly funded by legal compensation claims. Circle Case Management Ltd oversee the recruitment process, training and performance management of support workers employed directly by the people using the service.
The service is registered to provide personal care. At the time of our inspection there were seven people receiving the regulated activities provided by the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were supported by a service which had systems in place to identify and report concerns. Staff had received training in safeguarding, which helped them to recognise the signs of abuse and actions to take if they had any concerns.
Circle Case Management Ltd support some children. Staff had received safeguarding training specific to children and the provider had an up to date child protection policy in place.
Relatives told us people received safe care. Comments included, “My son is always kept safe at all times.”
People received support from their own staff team who were recruited safely by Circle Case Management Ltd. Staff received an induction and the provider’s mandatory training as well as specific training relevant to the person they support. Staff were trained to administer medicines safely and discussed medicine administration as part of their supervisions.
Staff had received training in infection control, had access to PPE and were part of the government’s Covid-19 testing program.
People's needs were comprehensively assessed and staff with the right skills helped to meet these. Staff supported people with their eating, drinking and to access healthcare support.
People were cared for by staff who were very caring and considerate. Relatives felt involved in their care and able to express their views. People received care and support which was personalised to them and their unique circumstances and wishes.
People's independence was promoted and respected and were supported by staff in a dignified and respectful way.
People benefited from a staff team who enjoyed their jobs and were proud to work for the service. Staff had a good knowledge about the people they supported and told us they were proud and enjoyed working at the service. This was evident from the positive feedback we received. One staff member said, “I believe I am surrounded by an excellent team of people and they will always try and help and if they can’t then they find somebody who can.”
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.
The provider had a complaints procedure but the registered manager said they had not received any complaints.
People, their families and legal representatives were able to give feedback about their care through care reviews and surveys.
The provider had systems and processes in place to retain oversight of people's care and ensure good standards were consistently met.
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 12 July 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This inspection was carried out due to the length of time the provider had been registered with CQC without receiving a formal rating.
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.