LIBERTAS is a domiciliary care agency. It is registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes in the community, including older people and people with mental health needs. The service also provides care and support to people living in two ‘supported living’ settings where people’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

Not everyone using LIBERTAS receives the regulated activity ‘personal care’. CQC only inspects the service provided to people receiving personal care such as help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. For people receiving personal care, we also take into account any wider social care provided.

We inspected the service on 6 and 7 February 2018. The inspection was announced. At the time of our inspection 305 people were receiving a personal care service.

The service had a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with CQC to manage the service. Like registered providers (the ‘provider’) 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.

At our last inspection in January 2015 we rated the service as Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

People told us that they were satisfied with every aspect of the service they received. In particular, the provider’s careful approach to managing staffing resources which meant staff were rarely late for the start of their care calls.

Staff had established warm, friendly relationships with people and went out of their way to help them in any way they could. Staff worked together in a supportive way and participated in a varied programme of training appropriate to their needs. They were proud to work for the provider and felt listened to by the registered manager and other senior staff. The registered manager had an open and responsive leadership style which set the cultural tone for the service

People were involved in agreeing the type and amount of care they received and their needs and wishes were understood and followed by staff. Staff treated people with dignity and respect and encouraged them to maintain their independence. Staff had the knowledge and skills required to meet people’s individual needs effectively and supported them to prepare food and drink of their choice.

People received any support they required to take their medicines and staff worked closely with local healthcare services to ensure people had access to specialist support when needed. The provider assessed any potential risks to people’s safety and welfare and put preventive measures in place where required. Staff knew how to recognise and report any concerns to keep people safe from harm.

The provider sought people’s opinions through regular customer surveys and people were satisfied that any complaints were handled effectively.

The provider was committed to the continuous improvement of the service and maintained a range of systems to monitor service quality. Action was required to improve the auditing of medicines management. Action was also required to ensure CQC was always notified of any significant incidents or events.

CQC is required by law to monitor how a provider applies the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and to report on what we find. Staff understood the principles of the MCA and how to support, in the least restrictive way possible, people who lacked capacity to make some

We undertook an unannounced inspection of Libertas on the 4 and 5 August 2015. Libertas provides a personal care service to people in their own homes. At the time of our inspection 203 people were receiving a personal care service.

People using the service were predominately older people. Some people required more assistance either because of physical illnesses or because they were suffering from memory loss.

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.

The Care Quality Commission is required by law to monitor how a provider applies the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and to report on what we find. The registered manager and care staff understood the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and had received appropriate training.

We found that people’s health care needs were assessed, and care planned and delivered in a consistent way through the use of a care plan. People were involved in the planning of their care and had agreed to the care provided. The information and guidance provided to staff in the care plans was clear. Risks associated with people’s care needs were assessed and plans put in place to minimise risk in order to keep people safe. An environmental assessment was completed in each person’s home to ensure it was a safe place for staff to work.

People told us they were treated with kindness, compassion and respect. The staff took time to speak with the people they were supporting. We were told of many positive interactions and people enjoyed talking to the staff. The staff we spoke with knew the people they were supporting and the choices they had made about their care and their lives. People were supported to maintain their independence and control over their lives.

People were assisted with their meals and medicines. They told us they received these at times they had requested.

The provider used safe systems when new staff were recruited. All new staff completed training before working at the service. The staff were aware of their responsibilities to protect people from harm or abuse. They knew the action to take if they were concerned about the welfare of an individual. We found that there were sufficient staff to meet the needs of people using the service.

People had been consulted about the development of the service and quality checks had been completed to ensure services met people’s requirements.