Archived: Domiciliary Care Agency Surrey

Updated 12 July 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 checked 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 was a comprehensive inspection.

This inspection took place on 23 and 24 May 2017 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a supported living service; we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

The inspection was carried out by five inspectors. This was because the supported living houses covered a wide geographical area and we wanted to speak to people at each house.

Prior to this inspection we reviewed all the information we held about the service, including data about safeguarding and statutory notifications. Statutory notifications are information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.

During the inspection we looked at a range of records about people’s care and how the service was managed. We looked at five people’s care files, including risk assessments. Five staff files, training records, complaints logs and quality assurance monitoring records.

We spoke to ten people and observed the care that they received. We spoke to seven members of staff, the registered manager and the new manager who was in the process of registering with CQC.

Updated 12 July 2017

Domiciliary Care Agency Surrey is a supported living service, owned by The Regard Partnership Limited. They provide support to people living at 10 houses. The service catered for people with learning disabilities and autism. Some of the people supported had mental health conditions. One unit specialised in acquired brain injury. At the time of our inspection, there were 23 people receiving personal care.

At the last inspection, the service was rated Good.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Why the service is rated Good

Sufficient numbers of staff were deployed to meet people’s need safely. The provider had carried out appropriate checks on staff to ensure that they were suitable for their roles. Staff understood how to respond to incidents and safeguarding concerns. Risks to people were assessed with appropriate plans in place to keep them safe. People’s medicines were administered safely by trained staff.

People were supported by staff who were trained to carry out their roles. Staff worked in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005, this meant that people’s legal rights were protected. People liked the food that was prepared with them and any dietary needs were met. Staff worked alongside healthcare professionals to meet people’s needs.

People were supported by kind and caring staff that they got along with. Staff knew the people that they were supporting well. People were included in decisions about their care. Staff respected people’s privacy, dignity and independence.

People had access to a wide range of activities. Care plans were person centred and reflected people’s individual personalities and preferences. People were supported to complain and any complaints were responded to appropriately.

Staff felt well supported by management. Regular checks were undertaken to monitor the quality of the care that people received. The provider kept up to date records that were easy to access. Staff understood the visions and values of the service.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.