Freetime Care Services Limited

Updated 23 January 2019

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 13 November 2018 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours' notice of the inspection in order to arrange for staff to be available to speak with us. The inspection team consisted of one inspector and an expert by experience. An expert by experience is a person who has experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. The expert by experience made telephone calls to people for their views on 13 November 2018.

The inspection site visit activity started on 13 November 2018 and ended on 14 November 2018. It included telephone calls to three relatives of people who used the service, we spoke with the registered manager, provider and three staff members.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. This was returned to us completed within the timescale requested. Our assessment of the service reflected the information included in the PIR.

We looked at the information we held about the provider and this service, such as incidents, or injuries to people receiving care, this also includes any incidents of abuse. We refer to these as notifications and providers are required to notify the Care Quality Commission about these events.

We asked the local authority if they had any information to share with us about the services provided. The local authority is responsible for monitoring the quality and funding for people who use the service.

We looked at a range of documents and written records about how care services were being provided which included sampling four people's care files, two staff recruitment files, staff training records and information relating to the administration of medicines and the management, auditing and monitoring of the overall service people received in their own homes.

Updated 23 January 2019

Freetime Care Services Limited is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care and support for people with learning disabilities who live in their own homes. The services to people varied from daily support in their home to providing respite support in their own home. CQC regulates the personal care activity that Freetime Care Services Limited provides to people in their own home. We do not regulate the day care provision provided from this location, although we looked at how the provider managed risks associated with people engaging in social and recreational activities as part of their care package. At the time of the inspection four people were provided with personal care.

The inspection took place on 13 November 2018 and was announced. At our last inspection on 18 February 2016 we rated the service Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

The service had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We found that Freetime Care Services Limited reflected the values that underpin Registering the Right Support. By this we mean the provider had developed their service to ensure people with learning disabilities and autism are supported to live as ordinary a life as any other person. They are provided with choice and there is promotion of inclusion.

Relatives were happy their family member was safe using this service. Staff knew how to recognise and report abuse. Risks to people’s safety were well managed and included those risks associated with using community amenities so that people could undertake these safely and without any restrictions. Consistent staffing levels ensured people had the support they needed in their own home. Recruitment processes remained safe with checks in place to ensure staff suitability. The provider did not currently support people with their medicines but staff were trained to do this. Staff followed infection control guidance when supporting people in their own homes. There were processes in place to improve people's experiences when things went wrong.

People were involved in identifying their needs and received support from staff who continued to receive regular training. Staff understood how to support people with eating and drinking and the risks associated with this. People had support to maintain their health and staff were proactive in supporting them to access healthcare services. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People were supported by staff who were caring and attentive and respected their diversity and choices. Staff promoted people's preferred communication methods to ensure their individual choices were fully respected. Staff had a thorough understanding of promoting and respecting people's privacy, dignity and independence.

Care and support was responsive to people’s needs and provided in a person-centred way. People were involved in the planning and reviewing of their care, and supported to follow their recreational interests. Relatives told us they felt confident to raise a complaint.

The provider had a clear management structure and had actively adapted their service to benefit the lives of people using the service. There was a focus on continuous improvement which was reflected in their development of the service. The provider worked in partnership with several other agencies to ensure people received the right support. Staff felt supported and valued in their work. There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the care provided and to ensure people received quality care.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.