ICDS - Specialist Support Team

Updated 26 April 2019

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide 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:

The Disabled Children's Support Services is a domiciliary care service which provides personal care and support to children and young people in their own home and in the community.

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 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be available.

Inspection site visit activity started and ended on 22 March 2019. We visited the office location to see the registered manager and to review care records and policies and procedures.

What we did:

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included checking incidents the provider must notify us about, such as serious injuries and abuse. We sought feedback from the local authority, Healthwatch and health and social care professionals who work with the service. The provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). 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 used this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection, we spoke with two children and 11 parents. We spoke with three members of the care staff, a complex case coordinator, senior practitioner, care coordinator, early support team manager and the registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four children’s/young people’s enabling plans and staff files. We also viewed training and supervision records and records relating to the safety and management of the service.

After inspection, we asked the registered manager to provide us with a variety of policies and procedures. All information was sent within the required timeframe. We used all this information to help form our judgements detailed within this report.

Updated 26 April 2019

About the service: Disabled Children's Support Services is a domiciliary care service which provides personal care and support to children and young people in their own home and in the community. At the time of the inspection, 66 children or young people were receiving some element of support with personal care.

People’s experience of using this service:

• Risks to children’s safety had been assessed and acted on. Regular reviews were carried out to ensure any changes in care needs were addressed. Parents felt staff supported their children safely. Staff understood how to report any concerns that could lead to people experiencing avoidable harm.

• There were enough staff to meet the needs of each child or young person. Small teams of staff were in place for each child, which helped to provide consistent care. Most children’s medicines were managed by their parents. Safe medicine practices were followed where support was provided. Staff understood how to reduce the risk of the spread of infection. The registered manager had processes in place to learn from mistakes and to reduce the risk of children and young people experiencing avoidable harm.

• Children and young people received care and support in line with their assessed needs. Staff were well trained and felt supported to carry out their role effectively. Where staff supported children and young people with their meals this was done in accordance with their assessed needs. The provider worked alongside other health and social care agencies to provide consistent care and support. Parents and their children’s views were considered when decisions were made about care. This was done in accordance with appropriate legislation.

• Staff were kind, caring and dedicated to their role. They treated children with dignity and respect and involved them wherever possible with choosing how they would like to be cared for and supported. Effective processes were in place to store records safely and in line with data protection legislation. This protected children’s and young people’s privacy.

• Children received person centred care and support that considered their and their parents’ personal choices and preferences. Parents welcomed the consistency of staff who understood their and their children’s needs. Efforts had been made to provide information in a format children and young people could understand. Complaints were handled appropriately and in line with the provider’s complaints policy. Effective end of life plans were in place where needed.

• Parents, staff and where applicable, children and young people, were encouraged to give their views about how the service could be improved. This feedback was used by the registered manager and the provider to develop the service. Staff enjoyed working at the service and felt respected and valued. Robust quality assurance processes were in place to help inform the provider of the quality of the service provided.

Rating at last inspection:

At the last inspection the service was rated as Good (Published June 2016).

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection.

Follow up:

We will continue to review information we receive about the service until the next scheduled inspection. If we receive any information of concern we may inspect sooner than scheduled.