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Sphere Specialist Healthcare

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

Suite 9-11, Sovereign House, Lennep Way, Jubilee Industrial Estate, Ashington, NE63 8UG (01670) 335772

Provided and run by:
Sphere Specialist Healthcare Ltd

All Inspections

6 July 2023

During a monthly review of our data

We carried out a review of the data available to us about Sphere Specialist Healthcare 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 Sphere Specialist Healthcare, you can give feedback on this service.

During an assessment under our new approach

We carried out our on-site assessment on 10 April 2024 and 15 April 2024, off site assessment activity started on 12 April 2024 and ended on 22 April 2024. We looked at 7 quality statements; Safe systems, pathways and transitions; Safeguarding; Involving people to manage risks; Safe and effective staffing; Independence, choice and control; Freedom to speak up; Learning, improvement and innovation. The service performed well against all statements we looked at. Safeguarding procedures and policies were in place and well understood. Risks were regularly reviewed; people and their relatives were involved in care planning and risk assessment reviews. Staffing levels were sufficient to keep people safe. Rotas were planned in a way to minimise risk. Late/missed calls were rare and the provider had systems in place to reduce these, and to learn lessons. People were supported to maintain their independence and have a clear say in how they received care. People, relatives and staff felt they could speak up if they had any concerns. The provider worked well with local partners and was finding ways to try and continually improve the service through this partnership working. At times people told us communication with the office was inconsistent but the provider made recent changes and improvements in this area.

30 January 2023

During a routine inspection

About the service

Sphere Specialist Healthcare is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care and support to older people and people with disabilities living in their own homes. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. 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 our inspection there were 35 people using the service.

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

People and relatives spoke positively about the service and the care and support provided. Comments included, “Oh brilliant, I would be lost without them. They are amazing” and “I think care is very good. I was dubious at first, but they are all good.”

Systems were in place to keep people safe. Risks to people’s safety and well-being were assessed and plans put in place to manage them. Staff safeguarded people from the risk of harm or abuse. Medicines were managed safely.

There were enough staff to meet people’s needs. Safe recruitment practices were followed. Staff received appropriate training to support them in their roles. Regular supervision, spot checks and appraisals took place to ensure staff were following good working practices.

Care plans contained detailed information on the care and support people required. There was evidence of people and their relatives being involved in the planning and reviewing of care. People were supported to eat and drink enough. The service worked with health and social care professionals to ensure people’s needs were met.

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.

There were systems in place to monitor the quality of the service and identify any areas for improvement. There was a system in place for the management of complaints. At the time of inspection there had not been any formal complaints. Staff we spoke with were positive about the support they received and the management of 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 07 March 2022 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

We carried out a comprehensive inspection as the service was newly registered and had not been inspected before.

Follow up

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