U&I Care Limited improved from Requires Improvement to Good across all five key questions, resolving previous regulatory breaches in fit and proper persons (Regulation 19) and good governance (Regulation 17). The service demonstrated strong person-centred care, a positive staff culture and effective partnership working, with minor areas for improvement around complaint recording and family communication.
Concerns (3)
minor
Record keeping
: “We found some examples were people had raised concerns and while we could see the action taken in their care plan, this had not been logged as a concern.”
minorCommunication with families: “A relative reported that this was usually around information sharing and activities.”
minorSafeguarding: “We discussed with the manager that the more longstanding staff revisit some of the organisations policies on safeguarding and whistle-blowing.”
Strengths
· Person-centred care with individualised support packages tailored to each person's likes, preferences and communication needs
· Strong positive culture with staff describing the service as family-like and expressing pride in their work
· Effective use of a behavioural support psychologist to develop strategies and identify potential challenges early
· Robust staff recruitment, induction and training processes including care certificate standards and competency assessment
· Comprehensive risk assessments promoting positive risk-taking to enable people to experience new things
Quality-Statement breakdown (21)
safe: Staffing and recruitmentGood
safe: Using medicines safelyGood
safe: Systems and processes to safeguard people from risk of abuseGood
safe: Assessing risk, safety monitoring and managementGood
safe: Preventing and controlling infectionGood
safe: Learning lessons when things go wrongGood
effective: Assessing people's needs and choices, delivering care in line with standards, guidance and the lawGood
effective: Staff support; induction, training, skills and experienceGood
effective: Supporting people to eat and drink enough to maintain a balanced dietGood
effective: Staff working with other agencies to provide consistent, effective, timely careGood
effective: Ensuring consent to care and treatment in line with law and guidanceGood
caring: Ensuring people are well treated and supported; respecting equality and diversityGood
caring: Supporting people to express their views and be involved in making decisions about their careGood
responsive: Planning personalised care to ensure people have choice and controlGood
responsive: Meeting people's communication needsGood
responsive: Supporting people to develop and maintain relationships to avoid social isolationGood
responsive: Improving care quality in response to complaints or concernsGood
well-led: Promoting a positive culture that is person-centred, open, inclusive and empoweringGood
well-led: Managers and staff being clear about their roles and understanding quality performance, risks and regulatory requirementsGood
well-led: Engaging and involving people using the service, the public and staffGood
well-led: Continuous learning and improving care; Working in partnership with othersGood