The Good Days Project

Updated 7 November 2019

The inspection:

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

Inspection team:

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type:

Good Days Project is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own home.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection:

This inspection was announced. We gave a short period notice of the inspection because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be available to support us with our inspection.

Inspection activity started on the 11 October 2019 and ended on the 22 October 2019.

What we did before this inspection:

We reviewed the information we held about the service, which included correspondence we had received and any notifications submitted to us by the service. Statutory notifications are information the registered provider is legally required to send us about significant events that happen within the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections.

We contacted social care commissioners who help arrange and monitor the care of people using the Good Days Project service. We also contacted Healthwatch Sheffield. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During this inspection we spoke with three people’s relatives about the quality of care provided to their family member. We also met one of the people using the service and their support worker at the main office. We also spoke with the registered manager, service delivery manager, deputy, team leader and a support worker.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment, training and supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 7 November 2019

About the service:

The Good Days Project is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. It provides a service to adults with a learning disability, physical disability and people living with autism in their own homes and in the community. At the time of our inspection the service was providing support to 21 people. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. There were three people being supported with their 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.

The service has been developed and designed in line with the principles and values that underpin Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. This ensures that people who use the service can live as full a life as possible and achieve the best possible outcomes. The principles reflect the need for people with learning disabilities and/or autism to live meaningful lives that include control, choice, and independence. People using the service receive planned and co-ordinated person-centred support that is appropriate and inclusive for them.

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

The service 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.

Relatives spoken with did not express any concerns about the safety of their family member. Safeguarding procedures were robust and staff understood how to safeguard people. Systems were in place to make sure managers and staff learnt from events such as incidents, concerns and investigations.

The provider completed pre-employment checks for new staff, to check they were suitable to work at the service. There were enough staff employed at the service so people experienced continuity of care. They were supported by a core group of staff who knew them well.

Medicines were managed safely at the service.

Relatives spoken with were satisfied with the quality care provided by the service to their family member. They said they would recommend the service for people with complex physical needs and/or learning disabilities.

Staff received a range of training and support relevant to their role. Staff told us they felt fully supported and listened to. Relatives were confident support workers had received appropriate training to meet their needs.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff understood the importance of respecting people’s diverse needs and promoting independence.

Relatives told us staff were respectful and treated their family member in a caring and supportive way.

There was a strong, visible person-centred culture. It was clear from our discussions with staff that they enjoyed caring for people living at the service and they found it rewarding.

At our last inspection, we found people’s care records needed updating to reflect their current care and support needs. At this inspection we found action had been taken to update people’s care and support records.

Relatives felt confident they could raise any concerns with the registered manager and those concerns would be taken seriously. There was a robust complaints system in place.

People using the service was supported to maintain their independence and engage in activities within the community.

At our last inspection, we saw the systems to monitor the quality and safety of the service needed to be formalised and embedded to evidence continuous improvement. At this inspection we found the quality assurance systems had been improved.

Rating at last inspection:

At our last inspection Good Days Project was rated requires improvement (report 11 October 2018 published). At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the overall rating of the service had improved to good.

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received we may inspect sooner.

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