Headquarters is a domiciliary care agency that supports people to live in their own homes. The service provides personal care and support services to people living in North Lincolnshire. Services provided range from a few hours support several times a week, to 24 hour support every day. People who used the service included; older people, people with dementia, learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorder, mental health needs, physical disabilities, sensory impairments, children 0-18 andpeople who misused drug and alcohol. At the time of our inspection the service was providing a service for up to sixty one people of all ages.
The service 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 person’s’. 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.
This was the first inspection of the service since they had moved office location in March 2016. It is an established agency in the area.
We found staff were recruited in a safe way; all checks were in place before they started work and they received a comprehensive induction. Staff received training in how to safeguard people from the risk of harm and abuse. They knew what to do if they had concerns and there were policies and procedures in place to guide them when reporting issues of potential abuse.
We found not all staff had received training in more specialist areas, for example mental health and autism, which they may not have the skills and experience to support people with these needs..
Safe systems were in place for the administration, storage and recording of people’s medicines.
The registered manager ensured staff had a clear understanding of people’s support needs, whilst recognising their individual qualities and attributes. Staff were positive about the support they received from their manager.
Records showed people had assessments of their needs and support plans were produced; these showed people and their relatives had been consulted and involved in this process. We observed people received care that was person-centred and care plans provided staff with information about how to support people in line with their personal wishes and preferences.
Staff supported people with their nutritional and health needs. Staff liaised with healthcare professionals on people’s behalf if they needed support accessing their GP or other professionals involved in their care.
Risk assessments were completed to guide staff in how to minimise risks and potential harm. Staff took steps to minimise risks to people’s wellbeing without taking away people’s rights to make decisions.
Staff had received training in legislation such as the Mental Capacity Act 2005, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards and the Mental Health Act 1983. They were aware of the need to gain consent when delivering care and support, and what to do if people lacked capacity to agree to it.
There was a complaints procedure in place which was available in a suitable format, enabling people who used the service to access this information if needed. The service had developed systems to review the quality of service provision and highlight areas which required further action. Action plans with identified timescales had been produced to address shortfalls.
People told us staff treated them with respect and were kind and caring. Staff demonstrated they understood how to promote peoples independence whilst protecting their privacy and dignity.