Archived: Oxfordshire DCA

Updated 6 April 2019

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team:

The inspection was carried out by a single inspector and one expert by experience made telephone calls to people using the service and their relatives. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type:

This service provides care and support to people living in two ‘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 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 two working days’ notice of the inspection site visit because the registered manager is sometimes out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be available.

Inspection site visit activity started on 1 March 2019 where we visited the services office to review records and other documents relating to the running of the service. On the 4 March 2019 we visited a residence to observe how people were being cared for, to meet people and to talk to people and staff.

What we did:

Before the inspection, we asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We did not receive the PIR. We looked at notifications we had received. Notifications are certain events that providers are required by law to tell us about. We also looked at the notifications we had received for this service. Notifications are information about important events the service is required to send us by law.

During the office site visit we checked recruitment, training and supervision records for four staff. We also looked at a range of records about how the service was managed. During our visit to the residence we reviewed four care plans and medicine records. Most people had some degree of difficulty speaking with us. However, we spoke with four people, three relatives, four care staff and the registered manager. We also contacted the local authority for their opinion.

Updated 6 April 2019

About the service:

Oxfordshire DCA provides personal care covering supported living houses and some outreach in homes for adults with learning disabilities and mental health needs in the Oxfordshire area. At the time of our inspection the service supported nine people.

People’s experience of using this service:

• People were safe. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Staff were aware of their responsibilities to report concerns and understood how to keep people safe. We saw that risks to people's safety and well-being were managed through a risk management process. There were systems in place to manage safe administration and storage of medicines. People received their medicines as prescribed.

• People had their needs assessed prior to receiving care to ensure staff were able to meet people’s needs. Staff worked with various local social and health care professionals. Referrals for specialist advice were submitted in a timely manner.

• People continued to be supported by staff that had the right skills and knowledge to fulfil their roles effectively. Staff told us they were well supported by the management team.

• People were supported to meet their nutritional needs and maintain an enjoyable and varied diet.

• People were treated with respect and their dignity was maintained. People were also supported to maintain their independence. The provider had an equality and diversity policy which stated their commitment to equal opportunities and diversity. Staff knew how to support people without breaching their rights. The provider had processes in place to maintain confidentiality.

• 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. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is required by law to monitor the operation of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and report on what we find. Staff had a good understanding of the MCA and applied its principles in their work. We saw people were supported without breaching their rights.

• People and their relatives knew how to complain and a complaints policy was in place. People’s input was valued and they were encouraged to feedback on the quality of the service and make suggestions for improvements. People had access to a wide range of individual, meaningful activities.

• The service was not always well-led. People, relatives and staff were complimentary of the registered manager and the management team. The registered manager promoted a positive, transparent and open culture where staff worked well as a team. The provider had effective quality assurance systems in place which were used to drive improvement. The provider worked well in partnership with other organisations. However, the registered manager and provider had not provided some information to CQC when required to do so”.

Why we inspected:

This was a planned, routine inspection.

Follow up:

We will monitor all information received about the service to understand any risks that may arise and to ensure the next planned inspection is scheduled accordingly.

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