Archived: GL1 Support Services

Updated 27 January 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 8 December 2016 and was announced. We gave the service notice of the inspection because it is small and the management are often out of the office providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be in. The inspection was carried out by one inspector. GL1 Support Services is registered as a partnership. We spoke with the registered manager and one of the partners. Following the inspection we spoke on the telephone to one person using the service, three relatives of people using the service and two staff.

We reviewed records for three people using the service and checked records relating to staff recruitment, support and training and the management of the service.

Before the inspection the provider completed a provider information return (PIR) in December 2015. The PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. As part of this process we also received comments from community based health and social care professionals working with people who use the service.

Updated 27 January 2017

This inspection took place on the 8 December 2016 and was announced.

GL1 Support Services is a domiciliary care service providing care and support to people in their own homes. At the time of our inspection there were three people being supported by the service.

Systems to support people to take their medicines were not fully safe. People’s capacity to make decisions about their care and support had not been assessed. Staff recruitment procedures were generally robust although health checks had not been carried out before staff were employed. Quality assurance systems had not driven improvements in the service.

GL1 Support Services had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We heard positive comments about the service from people and their representatives such as “excellent, no problem whatsoever” and “very happy”.

People were safeguarded from the risk of abuse because management and staff understood how to protect them.

Staff were supported through training and supervision to maintain their skills and knowledge to care for people.

People were treated with kindness, their privacy and dignity was respected and they were supported to maintain their independence. People received care and support that was personalised to their needs.

The management team was accessible to people using the service and staff. Staff spoke positively about their work with people.