Archived: North East Domiciliary

Updated 4 February 2017

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

This inspection took place on 6 December 2016 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure there would be somebody available to speak with us.

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Before the inspection, the provider completed 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 looked at information we held about the service including previous inspection reports and notifications sent to us by the service. Notifications are information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

During the inspection we spoke with one person being supported by the service and received feedback from three relatives and two social care professional.

We looked at records in relation to three people’s care. We spoke with the registered manager, the team leader and three support staff. We looked at records relating to the management of the service and systems for monitoring the quality of the service. We looked at four staff files which included recruitment processes, supervision and training records.

Updated 4 February 2017

This inspection was announced and took place on 6 December 2016. The provider was given 48 hours' notice because the location provides a supported living service and we needed to be sure the registered manager would be available for the inspection.

North East Domiciliary provides support to people living in their own homes. At the time of the inspection they were providing personal care and support to eight people. The service is based at The Fromus Centre in Saxmundham which is also the site of the supported living office and other of the provider’s services such as a day centre. People visited the site regularly to take part in various activities associated with their support and interests.

The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

The registered manager had a clear vision for the service. They explained they wanted to develop a service which had the possibility to empower people and the ability to manage what came with that. This meant listening to people, learning and reflecting on what they said.

People were placed at the centre of decisions made about the care and support they received. All care plans were person centred and written with the person's involvement. People's voices were heard throughout their support. They were supported to comment at regular reviews of their care plans. People were supported to remain as independent as they were able.

People were protected from abuse because the provider had systems in place to ensure checks of new staffs' characters and suitability to work with vulnerable adults were carried out. Staff had also received training in protecting vulnerable people from abuse. The service had taken the initiative to develop support for people when accessing the community alone.

There were systems in place to monitor the care provided and people's views and opinions were sought on a daily basis. This meant the staff team could then be matched to the person on the basis of their personality and interests, as well as their knowledge and skills. Suggestions for change were listened to and actions taken to improve the service provided. All incidents and accidents were monitored, trends identified and learning shared with staff to put into practice.