Care Quality Commission Report - July 2018
What we think about My Support and Care Services (West Country) Limited Easy read report Address: Head Office 40a, High Street Honiton EX14 1PJ Phone: Tel: 0140443920 About the Care Quality Commission We are an organisation called the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Our job is to check if every care service is:
We then give the service ratings (or scores) of:
About this service My Support and Care Services (West Country) Limited is a domiciliary care agency in Honiton for people with learning disabilities and associated needs such as autism, Asperger syndrome, and with mental health needs. We checked this service on: 25 July 2018 What we think about this service Across all the areas we checked, we think this service is good 3 1. Is the service safe? For the question, ‘Is the service safe?’, we think the service is good Staff knew how to keep people safe from harm. Staff knew how to give people their medicine safely. Sometimes staff did not know how to give people their medicine safely. 2. Is the service effective? For the question, ‘Is the service effective?’, we think the service is good We saw that people were asked if they agreed with decisions about their care. Staff talked to doctors to make sure people got medical help when they needed it. 3. Is the service caring? For the question, ‘Is the service caring?’, we think the service is outstanding Staff had really positive, kind and compassionate relationships with people. They treated people with dignity and protected their privacy. People were able to choose where to go if they wanted to be on their own. 4. Is the service responsive? For the question, ‘Is the service responsive?’, we think the service is good People were able to choose what activities they wanted to do. People were always helped to keep in touch with their families. 5. Is the service well-led? For the question, ‘Is the service well-led?’, we think the service is good Staff had regular meetings to talk about how things at the service could improve. Staff are supported to learn and receive training. What happens next? We have not asked this service to make any changes, but we will go back to check this again in the future. Getting in contact with us If you would like this report in another format or language, or you would like to tell us something, you can contact us at: Phone: 03000 61 61 61 Email: enquiries@cqc.org.uk |
Inspection Summary
This comprehensive announced inspection took place on 25 July 2018. This was the first inspection since the provider moved to new larger premises in Honiton.
My Support and Care Services (West Country) Limited is a domiciliary care agency in Honiton for people with learning disabilities and associated needs such as autism, Asperger syndrome, and with mental health needs. The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen. When we visited, the agency provided personal care and support for three people and employed seven staff. People's support hours ranged from an hour a day, five days a week, up to 24 hour support, with overnight staff 'sleep in' arrangements. Some people lived in their family home and others lived independently in supported living. A supported living service is one where people live in their own home and receive care and support to promote their independence. People's care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people's personal care and support. CQC is the independent regulator of all health and social care in England. We are given powers by the government to register, monitor and inspect all health and care services. Not everyone using My Care and Support Services Limited receives the regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care'; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. When we visited the provider was in process of buying another learning disability agency, the sale was due to complete in August 2018. The provider planned to take on providing support to the 60 people that agency supports and will employ their 18 staff. When completed, this will mean a considerable expansion in the size of this agency. The service has a registered manager who is also the registered provider. 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 ethos of the service was to value each person. Staff were highly motivated to make sure each person reached their potential and lived life to the full. People were treated with utmost kindness and respect by staff, who knew people well and how they liked to be supported. People said they felt safe and they appeared relaxed and comfortable with staff. Staff had developed caring, kind and trusting relationships with people. People told us how their support had enabled them to become more independent and about ways in which their quality of life had improved. Risk assessments were in place for each person which identified ways to minimise risks as much as possible. Accidents and incidents were carefully monitored, analysed and lessons learnt from mistakes. People received their medicines safely and on time. Safe recruitment practices were followed before new staff were employed to work with people. People had a range of ways through which they could raise concerns or complaints, which were listened and responded to. People received effective care and support from staff who were well trained and competent. People's consent to care and treatment was sought. They were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. Staff used the Mental Capacity Act (2005) (MCA) and understood how this applied to their practice. They supported people in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People's care was personalised to meet their individual needs. People had regular opportunities to raise concerns with staff day to day, and at regular individual review and customer meetings. Their views and suggestions were taken into account to improve the service. People were supported to eat healthily and maintain a balanced diet. Health and social care professionals were regularly involved in people's care to ensure they received the care they received was right for them. Staff were confident in the registered manager. They spoke positively about communication and how well they worked with them and encouraged their professional development. Several informal methods were used to assess the quality and safety of the service people received. The provider made continuous improvements in response to their findings.
|