We carried out a review of the data available to us about Support to Lead on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Support to Lead, you can give feedback on this service.
Support to Lead is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. It provides a service to younger and older adults with various needs including, people with physical disabilities, mental health conditions, learning disabilities and dementia. At the time of this inspection six people were using the service. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. The Care Quality Commission (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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were protected from the risks of abuse and harm and people said they trusted staff to keep them safe. Staff had received training in safeguarding people. People's care needs were risk assessed and care plans provided staff with the information they needed to manage the identified risk. Medicines support was managed safely for individual people according to their needs.
Recruitment checks were robust to ensure staff were suitable to work with vulnerable adults. Staff received training in infection prevention and control and told us personal protective equipment (PPE) was readily available to them.
Staff had the necessary skills to carry out their roles. Staff had regular training and opportunities for regular supervision.
People's needs were assessed prior to starting with the service and care plans were developed according to people’s needs. People were supported to access healthcare services if required.
People and relatives told us staff were on time for their visits and if in a rare occasion staff were delayed, they were informed via telephone.
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’s views and decisions about care were incorporated when their care packages were devised. People’s cultural and religious needs were met. The service promoted people to live as independently as possible and their care planning reflected this. People's right to privacy and dignity was respected.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right Support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of Right support, right care, right culture. The staff received training and support to enhance their skills and understanding in relation to maximising choice, promoting person-centred care and creating the right culture.
Care plans were detailed and person-centred. People had support with a range of indoor and outdoor activities where required. End of life wishes were generally discussed with people and their relatives; however, the wishes had not been documented as part of people’s care planning. We have made a recommendation about the provider considering end of life wishes as part of as people’s care planning.
Audit systems were in place to monitor the standard of care people received. Staff, people and their relatives’ views had been sought through regular contact, surveys and quality monitoring. Staff praised the registered manager and wider management team, they felt supported in their roles. People, their relatives and staff told us they would recommend the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 09/06/2020 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about staff recruitment. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.
We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led sections of this full report.
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.