Code of good practice for micro-providers in Denbighshire

A micro-provider is a small, independent, local business with fewer than 8 full-time equivalent employees or volunteers, who offer services or support that helps people improve their health or wellbeing.

This Code of good practice sets out the standards that micro-providers sign up to in Denbighshire and is intended for those citizens using, or thinking of using, a micro-provider’s services. Only those micro-providers who self-commit to these standards will be included in the Denbighshire County Council Micro-provider directory.

Micro-providers can offer a wide variety of support to help meet individual needs including:

  • Support at home: personal care, cooking, cleaning, shopping, running errands, companionship;
  • Support you to get out and about in your community: activities, hobbies, therapies, learning new skills, day services, peer support.

Please see the Help guide for further information on micro-providers and use the directory to source a local micro-provider near you.

Please note: Denbighshire County Council (DCC) does not approve or accredit the micro-providers in its directory and are therefore unable to guarantee the quality or satisfaction of any services provided. Nor can DCC accept any responsibility or liability for the information provided by any micro-provider in this directory.

Standards in the Code of Good  Practice

The micro-providers on the Denbighshire Directory have self-committed to the following standards:

Legal

  • Act in compliance with all legislation and regulatory requirements required as a micro-provider, including in relation to Care Inspectorate Wales (CIW).
  • Be totally independent of any larger or parent organisation.
  • Be a registered business with HMRC
  • Have in place public liability and other insurances to cover all aspects of the services offered by the micro-provider.
  • Have a current enhanced DBS check (no older than 3 years) for each worker
  • Have clear procedures for assessing and regularly reviewing the needs of customers, to ensure services offered are suitable and meet their needs.
  • Have in place documented guidelines on risk management, safety and safeguarding that cover all relevant aspects of the service currently provided.
  • Have written contracts with all the people who receive services and / or their representatives
  • Understand guidance on safeguarding and how to report concerns
  • Have documented policies on data protection (GDPR)
  • Have documented guidelines on risk assessments

Quality

Micro-providers and workers adhere to the Social Care Wales ‘Code of professional practice for social care’ (2017): This is made up of seven sections:

  1. Respect the views and wishes, and promote the rights and interests, of individuals and carers,
  2. Strive to establish and maintain the trust and confidence of individuals and carers.
  3. Promote the well-being, voice and control of individuals and carers while supporting them to stay safe
  4. Respect the rights of individuals while seeking to ensure that their behaviour does not harm themselves or other people
  5. Act with integrity and uphold public trust and confidence in the social care profession.
  6. Be accountable for the quality of your work and take responsibility for maintaining and developing knowledge and skills
  7. In addition to sections 1 – 6, if you are responsible for managing or leading staff, you must embed the Code in their work

Professional

  • Value the people they support
  • Are flexible and responsive to change
  • Promote people’s independence and choice
  • Are reliable and consistent
  • Are led by the person supported and what they need.
  • Are clear, transparent and fairly priced
  • Maintain professional boundaries with customers
  • Are open, honest and trustworthy in all their dealings
  • Keep people’s information confidential
  • Have clear notice periods for terminating services
  • Only undertake activities and use equipment for which they are experienced, competent, qualified and insured to deliver / use.

If you would like any more information about micro-providers, please contact Nick Hughes, Deputy Team Manager, Edge of Care Team, Denbighshire County Council via nick.hughes@denbighshire.gov.uk or 07747461646.