Seven Steps Support Limited

Updated 1 June 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 team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type: This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. It provides a service to people with learning disabilities.

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: The inspection was announced. We gave the service one days' notice of the inspection site visit because we needed to be sure someone would be present.

We visited the office location on 8 May 2019 to see the registered manager and office staff; and to review care records and policies and procedures. We made calls to people who use the service and families on 14 May 2019.

What we did: We reviewed information we had received about the service. This included details about incidents the provider must notify us about. We assessed the information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection, we looked at two people's care records and records relating to the management of the service. This included including staff training records, audits and meeting minutes. During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager and deputy manager. Following the inspection, we spoke with three people who used the service, two family members and four care staff.

Updated 1 June 2019

About the service: Seven Steps is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people their own houses and flats in the community. It provides services people with learning disabilities. At the time of inspection 44 people were receiving support.

Not everyone using Seven Steps receives regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care'; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided. At the time of inspection 23 people were receiving support with personal care.

People's experience of using this service: People using the service benefited from a responsive service. The service was exceptional in placing people at the heart of the service. We found the staff and management were supportive and went the extra mile to care right for people and were passionate about providing person-centred care to people when needed.

People using the service benefited from a caring service. People told us how staff were kind and caring and treat them with compassion and respect. We saw how staff were supportive and went the extra mile to care for people.

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.

People's healthcare needs were being met and medicines were being managed safely.

People were protected against avoidable harm, abuse, neglect and discrimination. The care they received was safe.

Care plans were up to date and detailed what care and support people wanted and needed. Risk assessments were in place and showed what action had been taken to mitigate identified risks.

People received personalised care and support specific to their needs and preferences. People's likes, preferences and dislikes were assessed. Care packages met people's desired expectations.

People were enabled to follow a variety of interests and activities. Ideas and events were initiated by people based upon their interests.

Staff were being recruited safely and there were enough staff to take care of people. Staff were receiving appropriate training and they told us the training was good and relevant to their role. Staff were supported by the registered manager and were receiving formal supervision where they could discuss their ongoing development needs.

There was a complaints procedure in place and people knew how to complain.

Everyone spoke highly of the registered manager who they said was approachable and supportive. The provider had effective systems in place to monitor the quality of care provided and where issues were identified, they acted to make improvements.

Rating at last inspection: At the last inspection the service was rated Good, the report was published November 2016.

Why we inspected: This was a planned inspection based on when the service was registered.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection 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