Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Domiciliary Service

Updated 22 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 checked 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 comprehensive inspection took place on 7 and 8 January 2019 and was announced. The registered manager was given 48 hours' notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be available in the office. The inspection was undertaken by one adult care inspector.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a detailed Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

In preparation for our visit, we looked at previous inspection reports, notifications (events which happened in the service that the provider is required to tell us about) and information that had been sent to us by other agencies, including the local authority’s contract monitoring team. We also received feedback from a community professional.

During the inspection, we visited nine people in their own homes and spoke with two staff and two team managers. We also spoke with three relatives over the telephone and the business support officer and registered manager at the office.

We reviewed a range of records about people’s support and how the service was managed. These included three people’s support files, three people’s medicines records, staff training records, two staff recruitment files, staff supervision and appraisal records, quality assurance audits, meeting minutes, a sample of policies and procedures, accident reports and records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 22 January 2019

We carried out an announced inspection of Hyndburn and Ribble Valley Domiciliary Service on 7 and 8 January 2019.

This service provides care and support to people living in 14 ‘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.

The care service had been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin ‘Registering the Right Support’ and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen. At the time of the inspection, there were 32 people using the service.

At the last inspection, in June 2016 the service was rated as ‘Good’. At this inspection, we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People told us they felt safe and staff were kind and caring. Safeguarding adults’ procedures were in place and staff understood how to safeguard people from abuse. There were sufficient numbers of staff deployed to meet people's needs and ensure their safety. Staff responded quickly and effectively to support people’s changing needs. Appropriate recruitment procedures were followed to ensure prospective staff were suitable to work in the home. People received their medicines when they needed them from staff who had been trained and had their competency checked. Risk assessments were carried out to enable people to retain their independence and receive care with minimum risk to themselves or others. People were protected from the risks associated with the spread of infection.

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’s needs were assessed prior to them using the service. New staff received an induction and were offered ongoing training during their employment. Staff were supported with regular supervisions and annual appraisals to ensure they could deliver care effectively. People were supported to eat a nutritionally balanced diet and to maintain their health.

Staff were respectful of people’s privacy and maintained their dignity. All people and the relatives spoken with told us the staff were kind and caring. We observed staff had a good relationship with people and supported them in an attentive and sensitive manner.

People’s care records were personalised and included their preferences as well as the goals they wanted to achieve. There were arrangements in place to review people's care plans to ensure care was delivered appropriately. People and their relatives were consulted as part of the person-centred planning process and their views were acted upon.

People were supported to plan and participate in activities that were personalised and meaningful to them. We noted people participated in a wide range of activities and had an activity planner to help them structure their time. People had access to a complaints procedure and were confident any concerns would be taken seriously and acted upon.

People, relatives and staff spoken with told us the service was well managed and operated smoothly. Systems were in place to monitor the quality of the service provided and ensure people received safe and effective support. These included seeking and responding to feedback from people in relation to the operation of the service.