Background to this inspection
Updated
5 April 2022
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
This inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes.
The registered manager had recently left the service. A new manager was in post and was in the process of applying to CQC to become the registered manager. A registered manager and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we wanted to be sure the manager would be available to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 02 March 2022 and ended on 08 March 2022. We visited the location on 02 and 08 March 2022.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority, professionals who work with the service.
We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with four people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff, the manager and area manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment, supervision and training and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
We undertook this inspection at the same time as CQC inspected a range of urgent and emergency care services in Knowsley. To understand the experience of social care Providers and people who use social care services, we asked a range of questions in relation to accessing urgent and emergency care. The responses we received have been used to inform and support system wide feedback
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data, quality assurance records and other records relating to the running of the service.
Updated
5 April 2022
About the service
This service provides care to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. The accommodation is rented and is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care service. The service provided personal care to 13 people at the time of the inspection.
People’s experience of using this service
People told us they felt safe with staff and that staff treated them well. Staff understood their responsibilities for keeping people safe from the risk of abuse and they were confident about reporting any safety concerns.
Applicants suitability to work with vulnerable people was assessed prior to a job offer being made. There were enough suitably skilled staff to meet people’s needs and keep them safe.
Safe infection prevention and control (IPC) measures were followed to minimise the risk of the spread of infection, including those related to COVID-19.
Medicines were managed safely. Staff were suitably trained to manage people’s medicines and their competency was regularly checked. People told us they received their prescribed medicines on time.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and promoted their independence. People were involved in developing and reviewing their care plans.
Staff received induction training and followed a programme of continuous training. Staff received a good level of support through regular supervisions and team meetings.
Staff were knowledgeable about people’s wishes and preferences. People were complementary about the staff, they described them as kind, caring and respectful. People’s independence was promoted, and they were involved in decisions about their care, staff respected people’s decisions and lifestyle choices.
The service complied with the Accessible Information Standards. People were provided with information in a way they could understand.
Care records provided staff with a good level of information about how to meet people’s needs and keep them safe. People were involved in regular care reviews and their records were kept up to date to make sure they reflected the care and support they needed and in a way they preferred.
People knew how to complain and were confident in doing so if they were unhappy about something.
People and staff spoke positively about the way the service was managed. There were effective systems to monitor the quality and safety of the service which included obtaining the views of people and others. Improvements needed to the service were acted upon in a timely way. People received person-centred care with good outcomes. There was good partnership working with others to make sure the best possible outcomes for people.
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 18 January 2021 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk