Suite 6B, Anchor House

Updated 25 March 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 undertaken 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 48 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. The inspection began on 04 March with an office visit and telephone calls were made to staff, people using the service and their relatives on 06, 09, 10 March.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since it was first registered. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was asked to complete a provider information return [PIR] 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 used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager. We reviewed a range of documents and records including the care records for two people and related medicine records and two staff files and training records. We also looked at records that related to the management and quality assurance of the service.

After the inspection

Via telephone calls we spoke with three people who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We also spoke with three members of care staff.

Updated 25 March 2020

Suite 6b, Anchor House provides personal care to people within their own homes. The service provides support for older people and younger adults and those with physical disability, dementia or with a learning disability. At the time of the inspection there were 12 people using the service.

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;

People felt they were safe and relatives raised no concerns over how staff supported their family member. Staff knew how to escalate issues and concerns and were aware of potential risks when providing support. People received their medicines appropriately and as required. Staff used correct equipment, such as gloves and aprons when assisting people. Accidents and incidents were managed appropriately.

Staff received an effective induction and appropriate ongoing training and felt able to support people confidently. People felt staff supported their individual needs and requirements. People received food and drinks as required. 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.

People felt staff were kind and caring towards them. People were given choices and were able to make their own decisions as far as possible. Staff supported people to be independent and ensured people’s privacy and dignity was maintained.

People and relatives felt involved in the development of care plans. Care plans provided staff with information about people’s needs and preferences and how they would like these to be met. A complaints procedure was in place and people and their relatives knew how to raise concerns and felt these would be addressed.

People, relatives and staff thought the service was managed well. The registered manager was described as being effective in the way they managed the service. Systems were in place to monitor the delivery of the service. Where issues arose, action was taken to address these.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. 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.

Rating at last inspection

This was the first inspection since the provider registered on 02 February 2018.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk