Background to this inspection
Updated
19 February 2020
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 inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes.
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 36 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
What we did before the inspection
We checked all the information we had received about the service. 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.
We contacted the local authority commissioning and safeguarding teams and the local Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. They ensure the voice of the consumer is heard by those who commission, deliver and regulate health and care services.
We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with one person who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager and deputy manager.
We reviewed a range of records in relation to the safety and management of the service. This included a variety of care records for two people.
After the inspection
We sent emails to eight additional staff to request their feedback. Five staff responded to share their views of the quality of care provided. We contacted five health and social care professionals and one relative to seek their views of the service.
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate the evidence we found.
Updated
19 February 2020
About the service
Ellerbeck Court is a domiciliary care agency providing support to people living in their own home. The service comprised of 12 individual flats. Not everyone who used the service received support with personal care. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects where people receive personal care support. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of this inspection, the service provided personal care support to two people.
The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Systems were in place to protect people from the risk of abuse. There were enough staff to meet the needs of people and safe recruitment procedures were in place. Some people were involved in the recruitment process of new staff.
Staff felt well supported by the registered manager, deputy manager and their colleagues. Training appropriate to the needs of people was delivered and staff received supervision and appraisals in line with the provider’s policy. Staff told us they enjoyed their work and were focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for people.
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 outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
People were treated with dignity and respect. One visiting professional told us, “The care for the service users really shines through. Staff are really interested in people progressing, it’s refreshing to see when you go, it’s all really good.”
Opportunities were available for people to be involved in a wide range of meaningful activities that were appropriate to them. People were encouraged to maintain contact and relationships with people who were important to them.
The service was well led. A range of systems were in place to monitor the quality and management of the service. Care plans contained relevant person-centred information which provided detail to guide staff in the actions to take when delivering care and support. Care plans did not consider any preferred preferences people may have for their end of life care. We have made a recommendation about this.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at the last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 2 June 2017)
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on our inspection programme.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.