Unity Care Solutions (Maidstone), a domiciliary nursing agency for children and young people with complex needs, was rated Good across all five key questions at its first inspection. The service demonstrated strong person-centred care, robust governance, specialist training, and innovative partnership working with only minor learning points around medicines audits and 'as and when' recording.
Concerns (2)
minor
Medication management
: “When errors had occurred, these had been identified through audits and action taken to address them. Staff received an email outlining the error and ways of mitigating future risk.”
minorRecord keeping: “it was noted that 'as and when' recording protocols were not consistently adhered to and this was addressed in supervision.”
Strengths
· Person-centred care with families and children at the centre of decision-making, including 'meet and greet' sessions to match staff
· Strong staff training including specialist training (epilepsy, tracheostomy, ventilation, PEG feeding) tailored to each child's needs
· Consistent and reliable staffing with rotas adhered to and stable care teams built around each child
· Effective governance with embedded audits, spot checks, and a 'company timeline' for management oversight
· Innovative partnership working including university student placements, charity collaborations, and a not-for-profit social enterprise board membership
Quality-Statement breakdown (25)
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 to maintain a balanced dietGood
effective: Staff working with other agencies to provide consistent, effective, timely careGood
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 and follow interestsGood
responsive: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsGood
responsive: End of life care and supportGood
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles, and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirementsGood
well-led: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staffGood
well-led: Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empoweringGood
well-led: Working in partnership with othersGood
well-led: Continuous learning and improving careGood
well-led: How the provider understands and acts on the duty of candourGood