We carried out a review of the data available to us about Oxfordshire DCA 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 Oxfordshire DCA, you can give feedback on this service.
Oxfordshire DCA is a domiciliary care agency and supported living service providing care to people in their own homes in Wantage, Oxfordshire. At the time of our inspection nine people were receiving the regulated activity of personal care from the service. Not everyone using the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care, which is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
Right support
The staff supported people to have the maximum possible choice, control and independence over their own lives. People were supported by staff to pursue their interests. Risk assessments identified how potential risks should be managed to reduce the likelihood of people experiencing harm. This included strategies to manage people’s anxiety and distress. Staff understood the risks to people and delivered safe care in accordance with people's support plans.
Staff supported people to take part in activities and pursue their interests in their local area and to interact with people. Staff supported people to make decisions following best practice in decision-making. Staff communicated with people in ways that met their needs and supported people to play an active role in maintaining their own health and wellbeing.
Right Care
Staff promoted equality and diversity in their support for people. They understood people's cultural needs and provided culturally appropriate care. People were kept safe from abuse and harm, and staff knew how to report any suspicions concerning abuse. The service had systems to report and investigate concerns. Staff knew people well and communicated verbally and by using signs and body language.
Each staff member had received an induction and training to enable them to meet people's needs effectively. We saw that supervision/spot check meetings for staff were held regularly and staff felt supported by the management to perform their role.
People's care, treatment and support plans reflected their range of needs and this promoted their wellbeing and enjoyment of life. Staff and people cooperated to assess risks people might face. Where appropriate, staff encouraged and enabled people to take positive risks.
Right culture
People led inclusive and empowered lives because of the ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of the management and staff. People were supported by staff who understood best practice in relation to the wide range of strengths, impairments or sensitivities people with a learning disability and autistic people may have. This meant people received compassionate and empowering care that was tailored to their needs.
People and those important to them, were involved in planning their care. The service enabled people and those important to them to work with staff to develop the service. Staff valued and acted upon people's views. People's quality of life was enhanced by the service's culture of improvement and inclusivity. Staff ensured risks of a closed culture were minimised so that people received support based on transparency, respect and inclusivity.
Relatives and staff spoke highly of the management; they found them approachable and supportive. Staff were given appropriate responsibility which was continuously monitored and checked by the manager. There were systems to monitor, maintain and improve the quality of 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 the service under the previous provider was Good, published on 6 April 2019.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection under a new legal entity.
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.