Archived: Affinity Trust Domicillary Care Agency

Affinity Trust Domiciliary Care Agency provides personal care and support to people with a learning disability or autistic spectrum disorder, who may also be living with physical disability. People received care in their own private single, or multi-occupancy living accommodation via individual private tenancy agreements. The office is located in Killamarsh and services are provided across the Sheffield area.

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 29 people being supported by the service with personal care tasks.

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

There were enough staff to effectively meet the current packages of care which supported people’s needs. People were safe, supported by staff who understood how to raise a safeguard and protect people from the risk of harm. Risk assessments had been completed; to assess any risks associated with required support. Staff were recruited in line with best practice. Medicines were managed safely, and staff ensured clear infection control practices. The provider had reflected on any incidents and lessons were learnt.

People were usually supported by a regular team of care staff. We saw staff had received appropriate training to meet people’s needs in line with best practice and current guidelines. When people required support with their nutritional intake, this was recorded and reflective of their needs.

People’s care was provided by kind and caring staff and people and their relatives told us they treated them with respect. The care plans were detailed and reflected individual’s needs and had been reviewed to ensure any changes were documented and shared with the staff team. Communication methods used were suitable for the individual. Care staff understood the importance of respecting people’s diverse needs and promoting independence.

The provider worked in partnership with other agencies to make sure people received the right care and support. Healthcare was promoted by staff working in partnership with health and social care professionals.

People and their relatives felt concerns would be listened to and the registered manager was approachable. Staff felt valued, respected and told us they felt able to contribute to the development of the service. The provider ensured that any complaints had been responded to, and people and staff were encouraged to give feedback. Auditing and quality assurance processes were robust, systems were in place to further monitor and to drive improvement. People and their relatives were involved and asked for their feedback regarding their care.

The provider had displayed the previous rating at their office base and had sent us notifications about significant events and the outcomes following their investigations or actions.

The service consistently applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensure that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes that include control, choice and independence. The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was Good (published 3 April 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.

Affinity Trust Domiciliary Care Agency provides personal care for people in their own homes. At the time of our inspection, there were 15 people receiving care from the service, which included 14 younger adults and one older adult. Most people receiving the regulated activity of personal care were living with others across six houses providing supported living accommodation. Personal care was provided to people with a range of learning and physical disabilities, one older person and one person living with a mental health condition. There was a registered manager for the service at the time of this inspection. This is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission. They are responsible for the day to day management of the regulated activity of personal care at the service. Like providers, as a registered person they have a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is managed and run.

People were safely supported when they received care and their medicines were safely managed. People’s safety needs associated with their health conditions and environment were assessed before they received care and regularly reviewed. Staff usually understood and followed the care steps required to reduce any known risks to people’s safety from this. Further staffing, care planning and management measures that were recently introduced helped to further ensure this.

People were protected from harm or abuse. Staff were safely recruited and deployed; they knew how to recognise, prevent and respond to a person’s likely, suspected or actual harm or abuse. Arrangements to review recognised behavioural care interventions from revised national guidance were planned to helped to further inform and ensure people’s safety in care.

People received individualised care from staff who supported them to maintain and improve their health. Staff understood and followed people’s often complex, personal care needs associated with their health conditions. Recent care planning and staffing improvements helped to fully ensure this.

Staff were trained, supported and supervised to provide people’s personal care associated with their health needs and daily living plans. People were provided with personal care in line with legislation and guidance in relation to consent. Staff sought people’s consent or appropriate authorisation for their care when required. This was done in a way that helped to ensure people’s rights and best interests.

Staff were kind, caring and treated people well. Staff knew what was important to people for their care; they knew people well and supported their rights, choices and independence in their care. Information about the service was provided in accessible formats, which helped to inform people’s care expectations. The provider’s staff recruitment and care planning arrangements helped to ensure people’s control and involvement in their care.

People’s care was individualised, timely and took account of their known wishes, lifestyle preferences, independence and communication needs. People were supported to engage in social, recreational and lifestyle activities they enjoyed and were meaningful to them.

The provider regularly sought to obtain people's views about the care provided as well as those of their relatives and external stakeholder’s. The findings from this were used to inform and make care and service improvements when required.

There were clear arrangements in place for the management and day to day running of the service. The service was well managed and run by a manager who was open, accessible and supportive. Staff were informed, supported and understood their role and responsibilities for people’s care.

Records for people’s care and the management and running of the service were accurately maintained and safely stored. The provider met with their legal obligations to tell us about important events that happened at the service when required.

The provider sought to continuously review and improve people’s care. Regular management checks were carried out of the quality and safety of people’s care. The results from this were used to inform, make and monitor any changes or improvements when required.