Sunnylives Support Ltd

Updated 7 May 2021

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 team comprised two inspectors, an assistant inspector, and 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.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

The service had a manager registered with CQC. The registered manager and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided. The provider was also the registered manager for Sunnylives Support Ltd.

Notice of inspection

We gave a short period of notice of the inspection so that we could make sure people agreed to be contacted by CQC to give their feedback on the service.

Inspection activity started on 23 March 2021 and ended on 30 March 2021. We visited the office location on 23 March 2021.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed all information we had received about the service since they registered with us.

During the inspection

We spoke with four people who used the service and eight family members about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with nine members of staff including the registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We looked at a variety of other records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found and people’s feedback. We spoke with a social care professional who was involved with one person’s care and support.

Updated 7 May 2021

About the service

Sunnylives Support Ltd is a home care agency supporting people with personal care in their own homes. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects where people receive personal care. This 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

People received care and support that was safe. People were protected from avoidable harm and abuse by staff who were aware of their responsibilities to report any concerns. People felt safe and were protected against other risks to their health and welfare, including risks associated with infectious diseases such as COVID-19. One person’s family member told us, “I trust them, they are professional. My mum is happy, she has confidence in them and she looks forward to them coming. She is happy and I am happy and I think they do a very good job.”

People received care and support that was effective and based on detailed assessments and care plans. 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.

Support was provided in a caring way. There was a strong focus on people’s independence and dignity, and on respecting them as individuals. People we spoke with told us they would recommend the service to others. One person’s relative said, “The care workers have said it’s a lovely place to work, small and personal, more like a family. It seems to come across in the way they work – they are very happy working for Sunnylives and are pleased to be with this company.”

People had responsive care. There were processes in place to make sure people received care according to their agreed plans. The provider made appropriate use of technology to monitor and review people’s care.

People told us the service was well managed and responsive. The provider had effective systems in place to manage the service, and to monitor and improve the quality of care people received.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 16 October 2019 and this was the first inspection.

Why we inspected

The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about a person’s care, and staffing practices. We decided to inspect and examine those risks. As the service had not been inspected, we decided to cover all the key questions and give a rating.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from the concerns received. Please see the safe, effective, responsive and well-led sections of the full report.

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.