United Response - Huddersfield DCA

Updated 1 August 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 team consisted of 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.

The service also provides care and support to people living in five ‘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.

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 the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 3 July and ended on 11 July 2019. We visited the office location on 3 and 5 July 2019.

What we did before the inspection

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.

Prior to the inspection we reviewed all the information we had about the service including statutory notifications and other intelligence. We also contacted the local authority commissioning, contracts and safeguarding department.

We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection-

When we visited the office we spoke with the registered manager, a service manager and a support worker who was completing their induction training. We also met and spoke with a person who used the service. We reviewed four staff personnel records, two people’s care records and a range of documentation relating to the management of the service. We visited two supported living settings and spoke with one person who used the service, a service manager, a senior support worker and two support workers. We also reviewed the care records for a two people who used the service. On 11 July 2019 the inspector spoke on the telephone with three relatives of people who used the service.

After the inspection

We requested further information from the registered manager to validate the evidence found. This was received, and the information was used as part of our inspection.

Updated 1 August 2019

About the service

United Response – Huddersfield provides both a domiciliary care service and a supported living service to people living in their own homes.

CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. 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 the inspection, five people were receiving domiciliary care. The service provided a supported living service to 14 people in five individual homes.

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 were safe and protected from the risk of harm. The management of people’s medicines was safe. People were able to access other health care professionals as the need arose.

The recruitment procedure was thorough. New staff completed a programme of induction and all staff received regular training. There was a programme of supervision in place to support staff. People were supported by a consistent staff team.

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.

Staff were caring and kind. People’s right to privacy and dignity was respected. People and their families were involved in making decisions about their care.

People participated in a range of activities. People were supported to maintain contact with their family.

People’s care records were person centred. They were reviewed and updated regularly.

People, staff and families thought the service was well led. Staff clearly understood their role and responsibilities. A range of audits were completed at regular intervals to assess the quality of the service people received.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 23 December 2016).

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.