Optimum Care Plus Limited, a domiciliary care agency in Croydon serving 8 people including children with learning disabilities and autism, received a Good rating across all five key questions at its first inspection in December 2022. The service demonstrated consistently person-centred, safe and well-led care, with strong staff-person matching, low turnover, comprehensive training and an engaged registered manager.
Strengths
· People were well matched with consistent staff, promoting trust, familiarity and positive outcomes for people with complex needs including learning disabilities and autism.
· Staff had comprehensive training in evidence-based practice including positive behaviour support, communication tools, human rights and restrictive interventions.
· The registered manager was highly visible, hands-on and approachable, leading by example and responding promptly to relatives' concerns.
· Personalised, strengths-based care and support plans reflected individual communication, sensory and health needs and were regularly reviewed.
· The service proactively sought feedback and acted on it, including bringing in an external communication specialist to develop personalised systems.
Quality-Statement breakdown (22)
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuseGood
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and managementGood
safe: Staffing and recruitmentGood
safe: Using medicines safelyGood
safe: Preventing and controlling infectionGood
safe: Learning lessons when things go wrongGood
effective: Assessing people's needs and choices; delivering care in line with standards, guidance and the lawGood
effective: Staff support: induction, training, skills and experienceGood
effective: Supporting people to eat and drink enough; access healthcare services; working with other agenciesGood
effective: Ensuring consent to care and treatment in line with law and guidanceGood
caring: Ensuring people are well treated and supported; respecting equality and diversityGood
caring: Supporting people to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their careGood
caring: Respecting and promoting people's privacy, dignity and independenceGood
responsive: Planning personalised care to ensure people have choice and control and to meet their needs and preferencesGood
responsive: Meeting people's communication needsGood
responsive: Supporting people to develop and maintain relationships; support to follow interests and activitiesGood
responsive: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsGood
responsive: End of life care and supportGood
well-led: Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empoweringGood
well-led: How the provider understands and acts on the duty of candourGood
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles, understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirementsGood
well-led: Continuous learning and improving care; working in partnership with othersGood