Disabled Children Service North -The Outback

Updated 16 January 2020

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 completed by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to disabled children living in their own houses and flats with family members to support their daily routine.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and gave the provider and registered manager the opportunity to share with us any information about the service during the inspection.

During the inspection-

We spoke with two relatives who used the service and made a home visit to one family to observe the interaction between the staff and the person receiving care. We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager, the deputy, and two support workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records. We looked at two 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 and quality assurance records. We received emailed feedback from four professionals who have regularly links with the service.

Updated 16 January 2020

About the service

Disabled Children Service North -The Outback is a domiciliary service to support disabled children with their daily routine and parental support. The service also supports children from its office base at The Outback, this aspect of the service did not form part of our inspection. At the time of the inspection the service was supporting five children aged between five and eighteen. All the children receiving the service required support with personal care. CQC only inspects where people or children receive personal care. The help involves tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. We also consider any wider social care provided connected with their care plans. We will refer throughout the report to the children who received the service as people

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

Staff ensured people were safe from harm through training and the confidence to report any concerns. Any risks had been assessed and measures were in place to reduce them or provide guidance to manage them. There were consistent staff who worked flexibly to meet the needs of people. Staff had been recruited to ensure they were suitable to work with people. Infection control was managed, and lessons learnt when events had occurred.

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. Staff had received the required training to enhance their skills and support their role. Peoples health and wellbeing was monitored to ensure they received the correct support, equipment and care with meals.

The staff were caring and had all developed relationships with the people. There was a small team which ensured consistency. Individual needs were respected and recognised. People’s independence was encouraged, and small steps celebrated.

People received responsive care which was care planned and developed with the person and their family. Communication was an integral part of the care to ensure the person could make their own choices. A complaints policy is in place which people and relative were aware of, however had not felt the need to access. End of life care was considered as part of the care planning process.

The service was run by staff who shared the same values. There was an open culture and the registered manager understood the requirements of their registration. Audits and quality systems were in place to ensure the service continued to meet people’s needs. Improvements were ongoing, and the service worked with a wide range of professionals.

The service applied the principles and values of Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These ensured 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 was Good. (Published 29 October 2016)

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.