Dolphin Healthcare Services

This assessment was carried out due to information of concern we had received about the provider. We looked at 3 key questions: Safe, Effective and Well-led.

Dolphin Healthcare Services UK is registered to provide 2 types of adult social care services; Domiciliary Care Agency (DCA) and Supported Living. At the time of this inspection, only the DCA service was actively delivering regulated care. The Supported Living service was not providing care and therefore was not included within the scope of this inspection.
CQC only inspects where people are receiving the regulated activity personal care and treatment of disease, disorder, or Injury, either directly by a healthcare professional or under their supervision. This includes help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where people receive personal care, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of this inspection 32 people were receiving support with personal care.

There were people with a learning disability receiving support at the time of our inspection. We expect health and social care providers to guarantee autistic people and people with a learning disability the choices, dignity, independence, and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. Right support, right care, right culture is the statutory guidance which supports CQC to make assessments and judgements about services providing support to people with a learning disability and/or autistic people. We considered this guidance as there were people using the service who have a learning disability and or who are autistic.

Staff ensured they communicated and shared information with people in a way they could easily understand. People were encouraged to maintain relationships with family and friends. Staff followed current best practice guidelines regarding infection prevention and control. People were treated with kindness and compassion. Staff protected their privacy and dignity. Staff spoke positively about the people they supported. There was a registered manager in place and a stable staff and management team.

Plans were in place to support people to manage risks. Risks were managed effectively, and staff had the guidance needed to support people safely. The provider had governance systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service, but these were not always effective at identifying areas of improvement and taking actions where required.

There were enough staff with the right skills, qualifications and experience. The registered manager made sure staff received training and support to carry out their role. Systems were in place to support medicine administration and management.