Familycare Homes Ltd

Updated 9 July 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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

One Inspector carried out the inspection.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in two ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

Registered Manager

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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection.

This inspection was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we were visiting people’s own homes so we needed time to seek consent to visit.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with four people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with three members of staff including the registered manager, senior support worker and four support workers. We spent time observing people.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple 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. We looked at medicines’ information and quality assurance records. We spoke by telephone with three relatives of people who used the service.

Following the inspection, we continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 9 July 2022

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

About the service

Familycare Homes ltd is a supported living service providing personal care to ten people in two properties at the time of the inspection. The service supports people with learning disabilities and autistic people.

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

Right Support

People were able to choose where they lived. The service was managed across two ordinary houses, which were close to each other as well as other residential and commercial properties within the heart of a local community. People’s needs were assessed before they began using the service so the provider knew whether the service could meet people’s needs. Staff received an induction to prepare them properly for their role and received regular training and supervision. People were supported to eat a healthy balanced diet. People were supported to access to health care professionals and their health was monitored as appropriate. Care plans were person-centred and focused on people’s needs. The service recorded and met people’s communication needs, providing information in a way that was accessible to them. People and relatives were able to make complaints, which the provider recorded and dealt with accordingly. People were supported to maintain relationships with family and friends, and to engage in meaningful activities.

Right Care

People were safeguarded from the risk of abuse. Risk assessments were completed to identify and minimise the risks people faced. There were enough staff working at the service to meet people's needs and staff were recruited safely. Medicines were managed safely. Infection control, prevention and practice was robust. Accidents and incidents were recorded and monitored so lessons could be learnt from them.

People and relatives told us staff were kind and caring. People were able to express their views and make decisions about their care. Staff ensured people’s privacy and dignity was respected and their independence promoted.

Right culture

The service was person-centred, and the culture built around what was best for people. People, relatives and staff told us they were happy with how the service was managed. Quality assurance systems were in place so the provider could learn and improve care for people. People and staff were able to be engaged and involved with the service through regular meetings. The registered manager was aware of their responsibilities and the service worked with other agencies to develop best practice. 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.

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

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about a complaint made about the provider. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the responsive section of this full report.

We undertook this inspection to assess that the service is applying the principles of Right support right care right culture.

Rating at last inspection:

This service was registered with us on 17 September 2020 and this is the first inspection.

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.