Turning Point - Kent DCA

Updated 5 September 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. 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 flats.

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 we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection and so we could arrange times to meet with people who consented to this.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority, professionals who work with the service and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection-

We met with five people who used the service. We spoke with eight members of staff including the registered manager, location manager, team leaders and support workers. We reviewed a range of records. This included one care and support record, one staff file and a variety of records relating to the management of the service.

After the inspection –

We spoke with six relatives.

Updated 5 September 2019

About the service

Turning Point – Kent DCA is registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. Each person had a tenancy agreement and rented their accommodation. The service supports adults who have learning disabilities and physical disabilities. At the time of the inspection 27 people were receiving a personal care 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 were encouraged to be a part of the local community; attending clubs, leisure centres, local shops, pubs and other local services. People were supported to make their own decisions and be as independent as possible.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence.

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 supported by a core staff team who had the right skills, knowledge and competencies. Regular agency staff were used to cover staffing hours for consistency. The registered manager had taken steps to improve staff retention and recruitment since the last inspection. Staff were recruited safely. Comprehensive risk assessments were in place and people were encouraged to take positive risks to support their wellbeing. Peoples medicines were managed safely, and lessons were learnt when things went wrong.

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. Some documentation about restrictive practice did not include specific information about equipment used to keep people safe. The registered manager took action during the inspection to improve this. Staff were well supported and supervised and had a good understanding and knowledge of people and their needs. Peoples health was managed and supported well, and they made their own decisions about their food and drink.

Staff were caring and respectful of people and people appeared relaxed and happy with the staff that supported them. Peoples diversities were respected, and equality promoted. The registered manager organised forums and meetings where staff could discuss diversity and human rights.

People had detailed care and support plans. People, relatives and staff were involved in the assessment and delivery of care. People did a range of activities to suit their own personal preferences. End of life information was available in people’s care plans and this had been discussed where appropriate. A complaints procedure and policy were available, and complaints were responded to, to find a solution.

The service was well led, and the registered manager had a clear vison for the service which staff shared. Staff, people and other stakeholders were encouraged to provide feedback, so the service could improve. Quality assurance audits were conducted so service delivery could continue to improve. Staff understood their roles and responsibilities and the management team continually assessed the outcomes for people.

The last rating for this service was Good (published 26 January 2017).

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