Background to this inspection
Updated
5 October 2021
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
This inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert 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 is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
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.
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 to the office location was unannounced. The visit to people in their own homes was announced for 8 July 2021 and agreed with them beforehand.
Inspection activity took place between 24 June 2021 and 27 August 2021. We visited the office location on 24 June 2021. Following this, we made telephone calls to relatives, visited some people in their own homes and reviewed documentation.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection 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. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made judgements in this report.
We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with two people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff, the management consultant and the registered manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and two people’s medication records. We looked at computerised staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We reviewed records relating to the management of the service.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the registered manager to validate evidence found. We looked at records requested to be reviewed off site, relating to the running of the service. We spoke with the local authority partners.
Updated
5 October 2021
About the service
GT Care (Wakefield) Ltd is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes in the community. It provides a service to adults with learning disabilities. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care.' This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of the inspection the service was supporting four people with personal care.
GT Care (Wakefield) Ltd also has a day centre. This part of their service is not regulated by CQC.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People felt safely supported and had secure relationships with staff, with consistent staff deployment to meet people’s individual needs. Recruitment practices focused on ensuring people with shared values worked with GT Care.
Individual risk assessments were documented clearly in support plans and there was full consideration for people’s safety in activities such as swimming.
Infection prevention and control measures were in place and known by staff, people who used the service and relatives. Clear information and reassurance for people and staff about COVID-19 had been continuously provided.
Safety related training was prioritised, such as positive behaviour support. Staff were confident in their abilities to keep people safe. Restraint reduction was given high priority and this was monitored closely.
Medicines were managed safely, with clear recording.
The service applied the full range of 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.
People's support was focused on them having as many opportunities as possible to gain new skills and become more independent. 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 with healthy lifestyles and encouraged to make healthy choices in relation to food and nutrition.
Staff understood the unique and individual needs of the young people they supported and were passionate and committed to ensuring the best outcomes for everyone.
Records of people’s care and support were written in a person-centred way. Consideration was given to how people could be best supported to achieve their independent goals and ambitions, in ways which were meaningful to them.
The organisation was committed to driving improvement. The management team had worked hard to ensure improvements to the service were implemented and embedded. Step up roles empowered staff to be fully involved and take ownership for their contribution to the work of GT Care. Positive feedback was given about the registered manager and how they were highly supportive. Staff felt listened to, involved and valued and were clear about their roles and responsibilities. Recognition and reward incentives supported staff morale well.
There was a clearly set out governance model. Quality checks were carried out, and there was closer oversight of the service. The key values and vision of the service were known by staff and embedded in the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection (and update)
The last rating for this service was Requires improvement (report published June 2020). The provider had made positive changes to drive improvement to good; we therefore completed a comprehensive inspection to reflect these improvements.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection to follow up on the issues raised at the last inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for GT Care (Wakefield) Ltd on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.