Dimensions Tyneside Domiciliary Care Office provides personal care and support to people with learning and physical disabilities living in their own homes and in supported living arrangements. At the time of the inspection, services were provided to 39 people who lived in the Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland and South Tyneside areas.

At the last inspection in June 2015 the service was rated 'Good'. At this inspection we found the service remained 'Good'.

The service had established systems for protecting people from abuse and responding to any safeguarding concerns. People’s care was planned to prevent and reduce risks to their safety and welfare.

New staff were properly checked and vetted and there were sufficient staff employed to support people safely and provide continuity of care. The staff team received appropriate training and supervision in their roles to ensure they provided effective care.

Suitable arrangements were in place to assist people in maintaining good health and taking their prescribed medicines. Staff supported people in meeting their dietary needs and, where able, to be involved in planning and preparing meals.

People were 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.

People and their families had formed good relationships with the staff and told us they were kind, caring and respectful. The service was committed to giving people information in a way they could understand. People were encouraged, wherever possible, to be independent and make choices and decisions about their care.

Person-centred care plans were in place which addressed the individual’s needs, preferences and the outcomes they wanted to achieve. People were supported to maintain relationships, engage in social activities and be included in their local and wider communities.

A range of methods were used to help people give their feedback and influence the standards of the service they received. Complaints were taken seriously and acted upon.

The management worked inclusively, promoted an open culture and provided leadership to staff. The quality of the service was continuously monitored and developed.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

The inspection took place on 23 and 24 June 2015 and was announced. This was the first inspection of the service since it was registered at a new address in September 2014. We had last inspected the service in November 2013 at its’ previous address and found the service was meeting the legal requirements.

Dimensions Tyneside Domiciliary Care Office provides personal care and support to people with learning disabilities. At the time of our inspection services were provided to 26 people who lived in their own homes, either alone or in shared houses with support.

The service had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We found that care and support was safely planned to prevent risks and protect people’s welfare. Staff understood their responsibilities in safeguarding people against being harmed and abused.

New staff were suitably checked and vetted before they started working with vulnerable people. There were sufficient staff to provide people with safe and consistent care. Staff were appropriately trained and supported to enable them to meet the needs of the people they cared for.

People were supported in meeting their health needs and to take their prescribed medicines safely. They were given support to meet their dietary requirements, and where needed, were assisted with their eating and drinking.

People and their families were fully consulted in making decisions about their care. Where people were unable to give consent to the care provided, formal processes were followed to uphold their rights and make decisions in their best interests.

Care and support was thoroughly assessed, planned and reviewed using a person centred approach. People were supported as individuals according to their choices and preferences and what was important to them. People accessed a range of activities to meet their social needs and be involved in their community.

Staff were kind and caring and had developed good relationships with people and their families. Relatives told us their family members were well supported to become more independent and have fulfilled lives. People using the service, relatives and commissioners gave positive feedback about the service, including how it supported people with complex needs.

The registered manager and locality managers provided leadership to the staff and actively sought to develop the standards of the service. Any complaints were acted on and there was a continuous system for assuring the quality of the service and the care that people received.