Archived: West Midlands Domiciliary Care Branch

Updated 25 October 2016

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 23, 24 and 26 September 2016 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a supported living service to people with a learning disability living in their own homes and we needed to be sure there was someone available in the office. We also needed to ask for permission from people to visit them in their homes. The inspection was completed by one inspector with telephone interviews conducted by an expert by experience. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before the inspection, the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This 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. We reviewed this information and other information we held about the provider when we planned the inspection.

We met with one of the registered managers and the regional manager at the provider’s office to look at the records relating to the management of the service. We visited seven people being supported in two homes to understand their experience of support. We spoke with a further three people and three relatives by telephone to listen to their opinions of the service. We also spoke with five members of the care staff to hear how they were supported to care for people.

Updated 25 October 2016

This inspection took place on 23, 24 and 26 September 2016. At our last inspection on 26 September 2014 the provider was meeting the requirements we inspected. West Midlands Domiciliary Care is registered to provide personal care services to people with learning disabilities living in their own homes. At the time of our inspection 30 people were being supported at 11 premises.

There were two registered managers 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.

Staff were working more than their contracted hours to provide care for people and felt that internal communication could be improved. People’s risk were identified, assessed and managed in a way that supported their independence. People were protected from unnecessary harm by staff who knew them well, understood how to recognise signs of poor care or abuse and knew how to escalate their concerns. Staff understood why people’s anxieties sometimes led to behaviours that challenged their safety and that of others and had plans in place to avoid incidents and manage risks.

People were supported to take their medicines correctly and safely. Staff had access to training to improve their knowledge of care and enhance their skills. Staff sought people’s consent before providing care and supported people when they needed help with their decision making.

People were provided with a varied diet and plentiful drinks which met their individual needs. Mealtimes were flexible and based around people’s plans for the day. People received kind and compassionate care. Staff supported people to maintain their dignity, independence and privacy. Staff gained information about what was important to people so that they could provide care which met their preferences. People were able to spend their time doing what they enjoyed when they were at home and had opportunities to go out alone or with support from staff.

People were provided with information about raising concerns or complaints and were happy to speak with staff about their worries. People were given opportunities to share their views of the service and were involved in the recruitment of staff. There were audits in place to monitor the quality of the service to identify where improvements could be made.