Archived: Freedom and Lifestyle Limited (t/a Midlands Community Homecare)

Updated 28 March 2023

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

one inspector visited the service and an Expert by Experience made telephone calls to people and relatives off site, to gain their views about the care provided. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal

experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage

the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours' notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection. Inspection activity started on 07 February 2023 and ended on 14 February 2023. We visited the location's office on 07 February 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and 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 2 people who used the service and 4 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 6 members of staff including the registered manager, senior staff, care staff and the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.

We reviewed a range of records, including 4 people's care records. We looked at 2 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff support and a range of records relating to how the service operated and was managed.

Updated 28 March 2023

About the service

Freedom and Lifestyle Limited (t/a Midlands Community Homecare) is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to older people, younger adults, people living with dementia, learning disabilities, autistic spectrum disorder or physical disabilities. At the time of our inspection there were 4 people receiving personal care from the service. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided.

People's experience of using this service and what we found

The provider had not always ensured people's risk assessments contained enough information. People did not always know the name details of carers providing support. Audits completed by the provider required more information to demonstrate how information gathered was acted upon and used to support quality improvement. Care records did not always evidence how people and their relative’s improvement recommendations were acted upon.

People received effective care from staff who had received a detailed induction. Senior staff ensured staff were confident in providing support through training, observation and regular spot checks of their practice. People and their relatives were positive about the care provided.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Staff were responsive to the needs of each individual. They used a range of skills to aid communication and considered people's religious and cultural needs. Complaints and concerns were managed well and responded to in a timely way.

Staff told us the service was a good place to work as they were supported and encouraged to raise any concerns as people’s needs changed. They felt the culture of the service was positive and everyone was working to provide good care.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 20 May 2021. This is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection to provide a rating for the service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.