This announced comprehensive inspection was carried out between 28 June 2018 and 6 July 2018.

DT Careplus is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. Not everyone using DT Careplus receives regulated activity. CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also take into account any wider social care provided.

The service provides care and support to children and young people with learning disabilities and autistic spectrum conditions. After the inspection, the provider applied to us so that they also provided support to adults and older people, including those living with dementia. They have now registered to do so. At the time of the inspection, two people were being supported by the service.

The care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with learning disabilities and autism using the service can live as ordinary a life as any citizen.

There was 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.

People were safe because there were effective risk assessments in place, and systems to keep them safe from potential abuse and harm. There were safe staff recruitment processes in place and there were sufficient numbers of staff to support people safely. Staff took appropriate precautions to ensure people were protected from the risk of acquired infections. People’s medicines were managed safely. Incidents were reviewed and there was evidence of learning from these.

People’s needs had been assessed and they had care plans that took account of their individual needs, preferences, and choices. Staff had regular supervision and they had been trained to meet people’s individual needs effectively. The requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 were being met, and staff understood their roles and responsibilities to seek people’s consent prior to care and support being provided. Where required, people had been supported to have enough to eat and drink to maintain their health and wellbeing. They were also supported to access healthcare services in emergency situations.

People were supported by caring, friendly and respectful staff. They were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives, and the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff regularly reviewed the care provided to people with their relatives’ input to ensure that this continued to meet their individual needs, in a person-centred way. The provider had an effective system to handle complaints and concerns. People were supported to pursue their hobbies and interests.

The provider’s quality monitoring processes had been used effectively to drive improvements. Relatives of people using the service and staff we spoke with were happy with the quality of the service. They were enabled to provide feedback and contribute to the development of the service.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.