The Care and Support Group County Durham

Updated 10 February 2025

Care and Support County Durham is a domiciliary care agency, providing personal care to adults in their own homes. The service also provides personal care and support to adults with learning disabilities and autistic people living in a 'supported living' setting. At the time of the inspection there were 109 people receiving personal care. 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.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, Right care, Right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. We considered this guidance as there were people using the service who have a learning disability and/or who are autistic.

Dates of assessment 24 February 2025 to 17 March 2025. At the last inspection in January 2024, we rated the service good. This assessment was undertaken in response to concerns raised with us regarding staffing and culture issues. We assessed a small number of quality statements to look at the concerns that had been raised. We did not find any concerns in relation to staffing or the culture of the service.

The management team and care staff knew people well and worked together to provide safe, person-centred care which met people’s needs and preferences. Risks were assessed and mitigated. Governance systems were in place however, more detailed oversight was required to keep records current and person centred.

Updated 10 February 2025

People were supported in a person centred way by staff who knew them well, understood their needs and respected their decisions. People, and their relatives, shared positive feedback of their experiences of Care and Support County Durham.

Comments from people included, “The staff are very good, I don't really have to wait long for anything. I have 1:1 staff from 10am - 3pm.” Another told us, “The staff are all nice” and “There are extra staff who can be called for support when needed.” Comments from relatives included, “The staff are consistent, it’s always the same people in every day/week to support my relative. Handovers are great if someone’s going on holiday or is sick. My relative has complex needs and autism, so we have a bespoke care plan just for them.” And, “The staff are fantastic, absolutely no concerns with their competency, they're brilliant.”