Brainerd Limited Domiciliary Care Service

Domiciliary care services provide personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. No one was in receipt of this service at the time of the inspection. This service also provides care and support to people living in ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live in their own home 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. Brainerd Limited Domiciliary Care Service is registered to provide personal care to older and younger people and people who have learning disabilities. Some people had additional services offered by the provider including domestic, recreational and companionship help.

This inspection took place on 22 March 2018. Advance notice was given (over a week) as the service is small and we needed to be sure the registered manager would be available when we visited the agency offices. This was the first inspection of the service. We found all areas were good.

The service had two registered managers. 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.

The service was well-led with person-centred values and a vision to provide high quality care. The management team were open and approachable. The provider and registered manager listened to feedback and reflected on how the service could be further improved.

People were protected from harm and discrimination. People’s human rights were protected because the code of practice in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) was understood and followed. People’s nutritional needs were met because staff followed people’s support plans to make sure people were eating and drinking enough and potential risks were known.

People were treated equally and fairly. Staff adapted their communication methods dependent upon people’s needs, for example simple questions, flash cards and/or pictures. Verbal information and explanations about care were given to people with cognitive difficulties and the service had plans in place to develop written support plans in pictorial formats. People were supported by staff who were compassionate, kind and caring. All staff demonstrated kindness for people through their conversations and interactions. People were supported by a consistent staff group who knew them well. People’s privacy and dignity was promoted. As far as possible, people were actively involved in making choices and decisions about how they wanted to live their lives. People were protected from abuse because staff understood what action to take if they were concerned someone was being abused or mistreated.

People had support plans which described how they liked their needs met and their individual routines. People had regular reviews to ensure the service provided to them changed as they did.

Risks associated with people’s care and living environment were effectively managed to ensure their freedom was promoted. People’s independence was encouraged and staff helped people feel valued by engaging in everyday tasks where they were able to.

The provider and management team wanted to ensure the right staff were employed, so recruitment practices were safe and ensured that checks had been undertaken. Staff underwent a thorough induction and ongoing training to meet people’s needs effectively. People’s medicines were managed safely.

People received care from staff who had undertaken training to be able to meet their unique needs. People were supported to access health care professionals to maintain their health and wellbeing. People led full and active lives enjoying a variety of individualised activities such as cricket, walks, bakery visits.

Safe infection control practices were followed. People, and those who mattered to them were involved in decisions about their care.

There had been no complaints made to the service but polices and procedures were in place should people, relatives or professionals wish to raise concerns.