This focused inspection of Darlington Borough Council In House Home Care rated both Safe and Well-led as Good, with overall Good maintained. The service demonstrated safe medicines management, person-centred reablement and supported living care, and strong leadership with effective partnership working, though some management systems were still in development due to the relatively new manager.
Strengths
· Medicines administered and signed for safely, with regular manager checks and staff competency assessments
· People involved in managing their own risks and supported to maintain independence
· Consistent staffing for supported living residents; reablement service users got to know their staff
· Positive, open, person-centred culture promoted by management
· Strong multidisciplinary partnership working, including weekly forums with Rapid Response Team
Quality-Statement breakdown (10)
safe: Using medicines safelyGood
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and managementGood
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from the risk of abuse and avoidable harmGood
safe: Staffing and recruitmentGood
safe: Preventing and controlling infectionGood
safe: Learning lessons when things go wrongGood
well-led: Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empoweringGood
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles; continuous learning and improving careGood
well-led: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staffGood