We carried out a review of the data available to us about Balance Care on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Balance Care, you can give feedback on this service.
Balance Care is a supported living service which provides people with care and support in their own homes, enabling them to remain as independent as possible. At the time of our inspection there were two people receiving support.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports The Care Quality Commission (CQC) to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.
Right support
The model of care and setting helped to maximise choice, control and independence. People are empowered to remain independent and are involved in the provision of care they receive.
Right Care
People's dignity, privacy and human rights were respected and supported. People received personalised care that was tailored around their likes, wishes and preferences.
Right Culture
The ethos, values and attitudes of leaders and care staff helped to ensure people were encouraged to live confident, inclusive and empowered lives.
People told us they felt safe receiving support from Balance Care staff. Managers and staff understood their responsibilities and the importance of keeping people 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; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People’s support needs and areas of risk were appropriately assessed and measures were put in place to ensure they received the most effective level of care, that was tailored around their needs.
People received care from a consistent staff team who were familiar with their support needs. Safe recruitment procedures were complied with. The suitability of staff was thoroughly assessed before they were recruited to support people using the service.
Infection prevention and control (IPC) measures and arrangements were followed to minimise the spread of infection. There was a COVID-19 continency plan in place and staff were engaged in routine testing regimes.
Safe medication administration procedures were in place. Staff were suitably trained to support people with their medications and compliance was routinely monitored.
The culture and ethos of the service was person-centred, inclusive and empowering. People, staff and one external professional spoke positively about the provision of care being provided.
Robust quality assurance systems and processes helped to monitor the quality and safety of care being provided. There was effective partnership work in place, ensuring people received a holistic level of care.
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 the service, under the previous provider / previous premises was requires improvement, published on 6 October 2018. Balance Care was registered with CQC on 30 May 2019 and this was the first inspection at this registered location.
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.