ATF Bespoke Support Ltd

Updated 9 June 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

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care and support to people living in their own homes. This service also 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 CQC; the registered manager was also the owner. This means that they are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced.

We gave a short period notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 26 May 2021 and ended on 27 May 2021. We visited the office location on 26 May 2021.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed the information we received about the service since they were registered with us. We reviewed information from statutory notifications sent to us by the service about incidents and events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events, which the service is required to send us by law.

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 this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We visited the office and spoke with the registered manager and reviewed a range of records. This included two people's care records and medication records. We looked at two staff recruitment files. We also reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

We spoke with two people using the service and two family members, on the telephone, about their experience of the care and support provided. We also spoke with two support staff.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 9 June 2021

About the service

ATF Bespoke Support Ltd is a domiciliary care service providing care and support to younger adults with learning and/or physical disabilities, including those on the autistic spectrum. People using the service are supported in their family homes, in ‘supported living’ settings or in their own homes.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. The Care Quality Commission (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. At the time of the inspection, there were four people receiving a regulatory activity.

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

People told us they were happy with the service they received, and they felt safe; good relationships had developed between staff and people using the service. Safeguarding adults’ procedures were in place and staff understood how to protect people from abuse. Recruitment processes were safe. There were enough numbers of staff deployed to meet people's needs in a punctual, consistent and flexible way and to ensure their safety. People received their medicines when they needed them from staff who had been trained and had their competency checked. People were enabled to retain their independence and receive support with minimum risk to themselves or others.

People were given 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 care and support needs were continually assessed to ensure their needs were being met. Arrangements were in place to ensure staff received ongoing training, supervision and support. People were supported at mealtimes in line with their care plan and staff worked in partnership with healthcare professionals, when needed.

Management and staff had developed friendly, trusting, caring and respectful relationships with people using the service and their families. Staff knew about people’s routines and preferences; this made sure people’s care was tailored to their specific needs. People had been consulted about their care needs and had been involved in the care planning process; their decisions were respected. People had access to a range of activities, if this was in line with their care plan. People were aware of how they could raise any complaints, concerns and compliments and had access to a complaint’s procedure.

The quality of the service was monitored and any noted shortfalls were addressed. We discussed how the quality monitoring systems could be improved to ensure they were more effective. Staff told us they were supported by the registered manager, and they enjoyed working for the service. People’s views and opinions of the service were sought and acted on. Everyone spoken with, told us the service was well-managed.

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 CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people.

This service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the underpinning principles of right support, right care, right culture. People’s care was person-centred and focused on choice, control and independence. People were supported to lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives.

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 10 September 2019; this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection as the service was not yet rated.

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.