Background to this inspection
Updated
30 June 2021
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.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
This inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. 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 homes.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they 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
This inspection was unannounced.
Inspection activity started on 26 April 2021 and ended on 5 May 2021. We visited the office location on 28 April 2021.
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 and professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with 14 people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We contacted 16 members of staff including support workers and care co-ordinators. We spoke with the registered manager and office staff.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We also reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service. including policies and procedures.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at policies and procedures. We spoke with health and social care professionals who are involved in people’s care.
Updated
30 June 2021
About the service
Good Companions Care at Home Agency is a domiciliary care service providing personal nursing care to people who live in their own homes. At the time of this inspection 72 people were using 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
People and relatives were very positive about the service they received. They told us they received “helpful and friendly” support from “kind and caring” staff.
People said they felt safe and well-supported during the COVID-19 pandemic. They described how staff always wore the correct PPE, washed their hands regularly and followed all the rules and guidelines.
People’s needs and risks to their well-being were assessed and recorded. The quality and detail of the care records was inconsistent. We have made a recommendation about this.
People described staff as “good at their jobs”. People said they were fully involved in managing their own care service. They told us all staff, including office staff, treated them like “part of the family”.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff assisted them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service upheld this practice.
Staff understood how to report any concerns and felt these would be listened to. Some people were assisted with their medicines and there were clear systems to manage this.
At the time of this inspection there were enough staff employed to provide the service. Recently there had been a significant gap in staffing but the provider had worked with commissioners to manage the situation until new staff could be appointed.
People and staff said the management team were open, approachable and always contactable.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good (published October 2017).
Why we inspected
We received concerns in relation to staffing levels, staff training and how the service was managed. As a result, we undertook a focused inspection to review the key questions of safe and well-led only.
We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report.
We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Good Companions Care at Home Agency on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.