Focus Care Agency Limited is rated Outstanding overall, providing exceptional person-centred care to 24 people with learning disabilities and autism across multiple regions, with strong leadership, innovative practice, and transformative outcomes widely praised by professionals and families. No failure themes were identified; the service improved from Good to Outstanding in effective and well-led domains since its last inspection in 2017.
Strengths
· Highly person-centred care enabling people with learning disabilities and autism to live full, independent lives aligned with Registering the Right Support principles
· Innovative use of technology (cameras, sensors, talking tablets) and creative approaches to support people with complex needs and communication difficulties
· People were actively involved in staff interviews, training, quality audits, and even employed by the organisation, fostering true inclusion
· Exceptionally positive feedback from external health and social care professionals about staff transforming people's lives
· Robust and embedded governance systems including trends analysis, quality of life surveys, and regular audits
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 lawOutstanding
effective: Staff support: induction, training, skills and experienceOutstanding
effective: Staff working with other agencies to provide consistent, effective, timely careOutstanding
effective: Ensuring consent to care and treatment in line with law and guidanceOutstanding
effective: Supporting people to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced dietGood
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 preferencesOutstanding
responsive: Meeting people's communication needsOutstanding
responsive: Supporting people to develop and maintain relationships to avoid social isolationOutstanding
responsive: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsGood
responsive: End of life care and supportGood
well-led: Working in partnership with others; promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empoweringOutstanding
well-led: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staffOutstanding
well-led: Duty of candour; continuous learning and improving care; governance and regulatory requirementsOutstanding
Focus Care Agency Limited was rated Good overall at its May 2017 inspection, with an Outstanding rating for Responsive reflecting exceptional person-centred care that helped people with learning disabilities achieve meaningful goals and greater independence. No regulatory breaches or failure themes were identified, with the service demonstrating strong leadership, robust staffing, and effective quality assurance.
Strengths
· Exceptionally person-centred care helping people with learning disabilities achieve individual goals and increased independence
· Detailed pre-admission assessments and regularly reviewed, co-produced care plans involving people and families
· Communication Passports used to convey key information accessibly and support staff in meeting individual needs
· Staff empowered to use initiative, e.g. designing a personalised 'fortress of solitude' garden space for a person's sensory needs
· Strong community links helping people access social activities and employment opportunities
Focus Care Agency Limited received a Good rating across all five key questions at its March 2015 inspection, with 18 people receiving personal care in their own homes across Suffolk, Essex and East Sussex. The service demonstrated strong person-centred, rehabilitation-focused care with effective staffing, governance and community engagement, and no areas of concern were identified.
Strengths
· Staff demonstrated strong safeguarding awareness and whistle-blowing knowledge, with people reporting they felt safe in their homes.
· Robust recruitment procedures involving people using the service in the selection process, ensuring suitable staff were employed.
· Effective medication management with people being supported toward self-administration and independence.
· Staff were well-trained across MCA, DoLS, challenging behaviour, and medication, with regular supervision and development opportunities.
· Person-centred rehabilitation focus enabling people to exceed their aspirations, including paid work, college courses and independent living skills.
responsive: Person-centred care and goal achievement
Outstanding
responsive: Complaints and feedback handlingOutstanding