Simply Care Partners

The provider had improved their quality monitoring systems so that audits and checks now covered those areas of the service where we previously found gaps and shortfalls. This helped reduce the risk of the issues we found reoccurring.

The person using the service received support that had been planned and agreed with them. Their choices for how support was provided were respected and staff delivered this in line with their wishes. There were enough staff to meet the person's needs. Staff knew the person well and understood their needs and how these should be met. Staff received relevant training and the provider made sure they were clear about their duties and responsibilities when providing care and support.

Staff were encouraged to treat the person with respect, maintain their dignity and privacy and to encourage their independence wherever possible, especially when being supported with their care needs. They made sure the person was able to do activities that interested them. The person was supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The person was supported to eat and drink enough to meet their needs. Records maintained by staff helped keep others involved in the person's care, informed and up to date about the support provided to the person. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of the person's healthcare needs and how they should be supported with these in a timely and appropriate way.

Staff were trained to safeguard people from abuse and to report any concerns they had to the appropriate

person and agencies. Staff knew how to manage and minimise identified risks to the person's safety and wellbeing. They followed good practice when providing personal care and when preparing and handling food which reduced hygiene risks.

The provider encouraged the person using the service and staff to have their say about how the service could improve. They had arrangements in place to make sure any events, incidents and complaints were investigated which included keeping people involved and informed of the outcome. Learning from investigations was shared with staff to help them improve the quality and safety of the support they provided.

Since our last inspection the provider had undertaken a review of the service and had made the decision to reduce the number of people they delivered care to. They had no immediate plans to take on new packages of personal care for people living in their own homes. However, if in the future they planned to take on new packages, they would make sure an appropriate staffing complement would be put in place to ensure care and support could be provided safely.

At the time of this inspection the provider and the local authority were working towards improving communication and information sharing between them . This should help to improve partnership working between the provider and the local authority so that any concerns about the quality and safety of the service would be dealt with in a more effective and appropriate way.