This inspection of Aspects Care Limited – Grimsby took place on 13 and 15 June 2018 and was announced. We gave the provider notice of our inspection because we needed to know someone would be at the agency office to meet us. At the last inspection in December 2015 the service was given and overall rating of ‘good’, with the well-led section rated as ‘requires improvement’ due to there being no registered manager at the time. Following the last inspection, we asked the provider to complete an action plan to show what they would do and by when to improve the service to at least 'good' in the key question 'is the service well-led?'

At this inspection we rated the service as ‘requires improvement’. This was because care had not always been taken with recruitment processes, staffing levels were too reliant on care coordinator cover and the management of the service was not as efficient as it might me. However, there was a newly registered manager who had been in post for the last two months and the provider was no longer in breach of their registration requirements in this regard. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like 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.

Aspects Care Limited – Grimsby located in the town centre of Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire has an office on the first floor of a privately rented building. The building offers a lift to all floors and provides car parking spaces to the front.

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community and specialist housing. It provides a service to older adults and younger disabled adults. The service was supporting 15 people at the time of our inspection. Five of these people live in their own homes. Six people live in their own ‘supported living’ flats in Willow House, Crosland Road and four live in a shared bungalow on Station Avenue, all of which are in the Grimsby area. People that live in supported living have tenancy agreements with their prospective housing associations. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living and therefore this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

This service provides care and support to people living in two 'supported living' settings, so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible. People's care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

Not everyone using Aspects Care Limited – Grimsby 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 care service has been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Registering the Right Support and other best practice guidance, with regards to the supported living houses. 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.

At this inspection we found that staff recruitment processes were rushed so that the service sometimes let people start shadowing before their checks were through and references were often received via the telephone or were testimonials only. We made a recommendation about this.

Staffing numbers were insufficient as delegation of work tasks were unequal, with care coordinators taking up visit duties to ensure everyone received the support

Aspects Care Limited is a domiciliary care agency which is located in the town centre of Grimsby in North East Lincolnshire. The main office is located on the first floor of a privately rented building. The building offers a lift to all floors and provides car parking spaces at the front of the building. The service provides personal care and support to people living in their own homes and supported living shared houses. The service was currently supporting adults with physical disabilities and at the time of our inspection they were supporting 12 people.

The service was registered in January 2015 and this was the first inspection since they registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The inspection took place on 9 December 2015 and we contacted the service before we visited to announce the inspection.

At the time of our inspection our records showed that the service had a registered manager in post. We found out during the inspection the registered manager had left their post in August 2015 but had failed to notify the Care Quality Commission they had left. A new manager had been appointed in September 2015 and was in the process of completing an application to become the new registered manager.

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.

There were policies and procedures to guide staff in how to safeguard people from the risk of harm and abuse. Staff understood how to report potential abuse and had received training to reinforce their understanding.

Risk assessments were in place to assist staff with minimising assessed risks and these were reviewed and updated regularly. Staff had been recruited safely and employment checks had been completed to ensure they were suitable to work with vulnerable people.

Staff had completed an induction when they were first employed at the service and they were provided in sufficient numbers to support the needs of the people currently using the service. Staff had completed a range of training in key areas which helped them to meet people’s needs effectively.

People were referred to appropriate health professionals when there was a change in their needs and staff followed recommendations and guidelines from professionals.

People told us staff treated them with respect and were kind and caring. Staff demonstrated they understood how to promote peoples independence whilst protecting their privacy and dignity. People were consulted and involved in decision about their care and the acting manager and staff had completed training and understood the Mental Capacity Act 2005, which helped to protect people’s rights

Staff felt supported and listened to by the acting manager and registered provider. Staff received supervision and attended team meetings regular to ensure they were included and updated on changes happening within the service.

The service had a complaints procedure in place and people felt they could raise concerns and they would be addressed. The service completed regular audits to ensure practice remained safe and effective.

The registered provider had failed to complete and return the Provider Information Return (PIR).