Dimensions Beds, Bucks, Cambs and Luton Domiciliary Care Office

Updated 7 March 2023

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. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

This inspection was carried out by 3 inspectors and 2 Experts by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

This service provides care and support to people living in ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. 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.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was 5 registered managers in post that each managed individual supported living settings across Central Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire and Luton.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because people and staff providing their support are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.

Inspection activity started on 11 January 2023 and ended on 23 January 2023. We conducted site visits on the 19 and 23 January 2023.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since registration. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We met with 8 people living in supported living settings across Central Bedfordshire, Luton and Cambridgeshire. Not everyone using the service was able to speak with us, so staff supported them to feedback using their preferred communication methods. We also received feedback from 8 relatives of people using the service.

We spoke with 9 support workers, an area locality manager, 4 of the registered managers and the operations manager. We received staff feedback via email from 3 support workers and 3 lead support workers.

We reviewed the support plans and associated records for 11 people using the service. We reviewed 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and selection and a variety of other records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

Updated 7 March 2023

About the service

Dimensions Beds, Bucks, Cambs and Luton Domiciliary Care Office is a supported living service providing personal care to people as part of the support they need to live in their own homes. The service supports younger adults and older people with a learning disability and autism.

Not everyone who uses 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 consider any wider social care provided. At this inspection 43 people were receiving personal care.

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

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. 'Right support, right care, right culture' is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

Right Support

People had a good quality of life and were fully supported to lead fulfilling lives. Personalised support plans gave clear information for staff to follow in keeping people safe, whilst enabling people to be as independent as possible

Effective systems were in place to closely monitor incidents and prompt action was taken to mitigate the risk of repeat incidents. People were fully involved in managing personal risks and in taking decisions about how to keep safe. Staff were skilled in recognising signs when people experienced emotional distress and knew how to support people to keep them safe.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests. People were supported to understand their rights and explore meaningful relationships. People knew how to raise concerns and were confident they would be dealt with properly.

Right Care

The staff team ensured people had full access to healthcare services. People's support plans were personalised. Relatives confirmed their family members were supported to follow their hobbies and interests. One relative said, [Person] has a really good care plan in place, it includes everything we think [Person] loves doing, like swimming.”

Right culture

Staff placed people’s wishes, needs and rights at the heart of everything they did. The service promoted a culture of inclusion, diversity and equality. A relative said, “I know all the staff, I have a brilliant rapport with them. I know they do the job because of their beliefs.”

People were supported to express their individuality. The staff team were caring and dedicated to the people they supported. People had the opportunity to try new experiences, develop new skills and gain independence. Staff supported people to pursue their chosen hobbies and interests and follow their cultural and religious beliefs.

People led inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management and staff. Staff ensured risks of a closed culture were minimised. People’s quality of life was enhanced by the service’s culture of transparency, respect, improvement and inclusivity.

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

This service was registered with us on 20 September 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.