Innovations24 Limited

At the time of the inspection, no person with a learning disability or autistic person was receiving a care package. However, we have assessed the service against ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ guidance to make judgements about whether the provider guaranteed people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices, independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted.

This is the first inspection for this service since it was registered.

This inspection identified that the provider was in breach of 1 legal regulation relating to good governance. We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.

The provider’s governance systems, processes, and procedures for assessing risks and monitoring quality and safety were not fully effective. These needed to be reviewed and strengthened to support effective care delivery, oversight and leadership and enable sustained improvement. There was no evidence of actual harm, as risks were mitigated by a stable staff team that knew people well. However, these shortfalls increased people's risk of harm.

The provider’s systems and processes did not include robust monitoring and analysis to identify emerging risks, track performance, and drive improvements in the quality and safety of care. In addition, the provider had failed to notify CQC of reportable incidents as required, limiting CQC’s ability to effectively monitor the service.

Guidance for staff about people’s care needs, including information in relation to health conditions, routines, preferences and family, social and work history, were assessed and planned for. However, people’s care plans were not outcome‑focussed, impacting the provider’s ability to review how effectively support was being delivered and whether it was achieving the intended results.

Staff recruitment processes needed some improvement to ensure procedures involving the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) were completed in a timely manner. These checks help identify any criminal history that may affect a person’s suitability to work with vulnerable people.

There were sufficient numbers of staff to deliver safe care and support. The provider was in the process of improving staff support. This included increasing opportunities for staff to discuss their work, training, and development needs. The process for assessing staff competency was also being strengthened. The management team were aware of gaps in some staff training, and actions were underway to address these.

The management team were open and honest and made some immediate improvements during the inspection period. They showed a commitment to further develop and improve the service