Ethos Care

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.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. 'Right support, right care, right culture' is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

Ethos Care was linked with the providers other service, they offered each other support. The service worked well with external health and social care professionals, and we received positive feedback on their working relationship. The Ethos Care management team were approachable, visible and supportive.

Right Support There were enough staff to meet the needs of the service. Recruitment processes were in place to ensure staff had the necessary checks before starting work with the service. However, we found some gaps in the documentation, the manager acted immediately to obtain the missing information. People were protected from avoidable harm by a staff team who knew how to raise safeguarding concerns both within the service and outside. Staff told us they were confident their concerns would be acted upon by the manager.

Risks to people had been identified, assessed and actions taken to reduce them, this included environmental risks. Staff knew people well and risk assessments covered all aspects of their daily care and support. Staff had access to the electronic system which explained safe working practices. People told us they were happy with the service they received from Ethos 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. Staff told us they promoted independence for people, one person told us, "They [staff] enable me to have a life." People told us they knew who would be visiting them to provide care and were kept informed if staff were going to be late.

Right Care People received their medicines as prescribed. Medicines management within the service was monitored by an electronic system. Staff had received training including regular assessment of their competency. An electronic care planning and medicines system supported safety, as changes to medicine regimes were made without delay. The system sent alerts to staff in the service office and they acted on any changes.

People were protected from the risk of avoidable infection. Staff had received training in infection prevention and control. There were plentiful supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff. The policy and guidance were in line with government and best practice guidance.

Accidents and incidents were recorded, analysed for themes and trends. Leadership was visible and staff knew their roles and responsibilities.