Care Together Limited - 1st Floor The Corner House

The provider was exceptionally skilled at achieving positive outcomes for people they supported. Detailed assessments of needs ensured that care plans reflected relevant outcomes and people's needs under the Equality Act 2010. People were involved in the development and review of their care plans. Staff were exceptionally well supported through regular supervisions and an extensive package of training. Support was given to staff to develop skills and the provider linked to other services in the area in order to access training that, as a small provider would not be cost effective to purchase. Support with nutrition was creative, staff prepared meals for and ate with some people, took others out to cafes and lunch clubs and made comprehensive recordings to monitor food intake. Very positive links had been forged with health and social care professionals and other service providers. This ensured that people had a seamless service when moving from hospital to home for example. 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.

People and their relatives told us that the service was exceptionally caring and respectful. A group had been set up for bereaved relatives of people the service had cared for which had been opened up to relatives of people who had a poor medical prognosis. A 24-hour on-call system enabled people to call for assistance at any time. Staff would often attend to someone during the night should they need personal care, or chat with them if they were upset. Priority was given to spending quality time with the person rather than completing a chore such as the washing up as the person may not see anyone else until their next care call.

New staff did not support people until the registered manager was assured they understood their role in maintaining people dignity. People and their relatives told us that staff were dedicated to ensuring people had quality of life.

The provider supported some people to transition to having care at home by providing domestic support in the home and gradually adding support with personal care. The provider was exceptionally responsive to emergencies and would adjust care calls to support people if they became unwell or needed additional support unexpectedly.

The provider offered a range of activities and supported people to access community events. They had been involved in setting up a dementia friendly ballroom class and regularly fundraised to provide additional activities for people such as visiting a local motorcycle museum.

Relatives told us they had been very well supported during the end of life care of their family members and the registered manager was proud of the way they supported people. For example, when a person had died, they would be dressed in a favoured outfit and items that meant a lot to them arranged with them. This had been comforting to relatives.

People and their relatives told us the service was exceptionally well-led, the manager and deputy manager received only positive feedback. The provider had been shortlisted for and received a number of care awards. Staff contacted us after the inspection to tell us how proud they were of the service and the support they received and provided.

The provider was holistic in their approach, though providing a service to one person, they would consider everyone in the household, the environment and support people in making future plans. The provider was committed to providing quality care and if unable to meet the specific needs of a person would signpost them elsewhere.

People and staff participated in quality assurance surveys. The registered manager was doing extensive work to develop new ways to obtain feedback as surveys were unpopular with people. The provider had positive professional relationships with health and social care professionals, local businesses and care homes and were well known in the local community.