Senior Health Care Cornwall

Senior Healthcare is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care in a supported living setting in London, as well as in private houses and flats in Cornwall. The service provides support to older people some of whom may be living with dementia as well as younger people and people who have a physical disability, learning disability or autism. At the time of our inspection there were 8 people using the service.

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

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

Governance processes had not always been used effectively to identify improvements.

Risk assessments were in place but did not always contain information about how to reduce risks to people.

Recruitment and induction processes were in place, however there were gaps in some new staff’s employment histories. This meant the registered manager could not be fully assured the staff were suitable to work with vulnerable adults.

There was no evidence available regarding the training of staff who worked at the supported living service. Assessments of the competency of staff who administered medicines had not been completed.

The service was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA).

People were involved in planning their own care and making decisions about how their needs were met. People's care plans described their needs and preferences and how staff should meet these.

People received kind and compassionate care from staff who protected and respected their privacy and dignity and understood and responded to their individual needs.

Staff gave positive feedback about the registered manager. Staff received training in safeguarding and people received information about how to raise concerns.

People and staff were provided with opportunities to share their views of the service.

Right Support:

The model of care and setting supported people’s choice, control and independence. People were supported to be independent and had control over their own lives. People made choices and took part in meaningful activities which were part of their planned care and support. People were supported to take part in activities and interests in their local area.

People’s care and support was provided in a safe, clean, well equipped, well-furnished and well-maintained environment.

Reasonable adjustments were made for people so they could participate fully in discussions about their support wherever they needed to.

Staff supported people with their medicines in a way that promoted their independence and achieved good health outcomes.

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.

Right Care:

Staff actively promoted equality and diversity in their support to people. They understood people’s cultural needs and were able to provide culturally appropriate care.

People were able to communicate with staff and understand information given to them by staff who supported them consistently and understood their individual communication needs. People who had individual ways of communicating, were supported to use these in their interactions with staff.

People’s care plans reflected their range of needs and this promoted their wellbeing and enjoyment of life. People enjoyed undertaking activities and pursued interests that were tailored to them. They were given the opportunity by staff to actively engage and try new activities.

Right Culture:

People received good quality care and support from trained staff who were able to meet their needs and wishes. People and those important to them, were actively involved in planning their care.

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 22 February 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to provide a rating for this previously unrated service.

Enforcement

We have identified breaches in relation to the governance of the service.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.