About the service Sugarman Health and Wellbeing - Dorset is a domiciliary care service providing personal care and support to people in their own homes. The service delivers support to children, young people and adults requiring complex care and continuing healthcare. The frequency and duration of visits across the service varied dependent on people's needs. At the time of our inspection there were 23 people being provided with support.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. 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 told us they felt safe when supported by the care staff. People and their relatives described both care and office staff as being kind, competent and well trained.
Risks in people’s lives were well known with all avenues explored to minimise the identified risks without being unduly restrictive. A professional noted staff “demonstrated good competence in keeping people safe and managing risk.”
People were supported by safely recruited staff who had received safeguarding training and demonstrated a good understanding of the signs and symptoms that could indicate someone was experiencing harm and abuse. A person expressed, “I feel really comfortable and confident with the way they care for me.” Staff were confident if they raised concerns appropriate action would be taken.
The service worked closely with commissioners and health professionals to provide holistic and timely support to people as their needs changed. Reviews were held regularly with input from all relevant parties including the person being supported.
People and their relatives felt listened to and involved in their day to day care. 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.
People’s communication needs and preferences were known, respected and met. Complaints were acknowledged and investigations conducted to resolve issues in line with the provider’s complaints policy.
There was a supportive and one-team approach at the service. Care staff and office staff worked cohesively. Staff told us they enjoyed working for the service and supporting their colleagues. Staff told us the service were flexible in helping them manage caring responsibilities and have a good work-life balance.
People, relatives, staff and professionals were unanimous in their praise of the registered manager who was seen as supportive, approachable and a good listener.
Staff felt valued and told us they were actively encouraged to learn new skills and qualifications. A staff member said, “Sugarman takes pride in helping staff improve and gain opportunities to progress within the company.”
The service had developed a good working relationship and reputation with health professionals and local commissioners. The service worked closely with schools and day centres to help people transition between home and other settings.
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 1 April 2020 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.