Background to this inspection
Updated
11 July 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. 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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was conducted by 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.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 7 June 2019 and ended on 27 June 2019. We visited the office location on 7 June 2019.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority. 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 used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with five people who used the service and one relative about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with nine members of staff including the registered manager, care services director, assessors and care workers
We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data, policies and quality assurance records.
Updated
11 July 2019
About the service
Direct Health (Kettering) is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to 112 people in their own homes at the time of the inspection.
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.
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
People and relatives were happy with the care and support they received and spoke positively about staff. People's needs and wishes were met by staff who knew them well and enjoyed working with them.
Appropriate recruitment checks took place before staff started work and there were enough staff available to meet people's care and support needs. Staff received comprehensive training to enable them to carry out their roles effectively.
Staff were happy working for the service and felt supported by the registered manager and colleagues.
Care records contained extensive, clear information covering all aspects of people's individualised care and support. Risk assessments were comprehensive and information about people was written in a respectful and personalised way.
People and their relatives were involved in the planning and delivery of their care, and asked for feedback which was acted upon when appropriate. Staff were encouraged to be actively involved in service development.
Staff at the service worked with health and social care professionals to ensure good outcomes for people.
The service had established links in the local community and had worked in partnership with key
organisations including local authorities and other agencies providing social care services to improve the service for people.
There were systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service. When there were problems, the registered manager dealt with them properly and worked to reduce the likelihood of recurrence.
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; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
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.
The outcomes for people using the service reflected the principles and values of Registering the Right Support by promoting choice and control, independence and inclusion. People's support focused on them having as many opportunities as possible for them to gain new skills and become more independent.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 25 June 2018 and this was the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.