Angels Care Wirral Ltd

Updated 25 October 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 25 September and the 1 October 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because it is small and the manager is often out of the office supporting staff. We needed to be sure that they would be in.

The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector. With permission we were able to visit three people in their homes.

Before the inspection we looked at our own records, to see if the manager had submitted statutory notifications and to see if other people had sent us feedback on the service.

The provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During the inspection we spoke with three people who use the service, two relatives, two carers, a coordinator, the senior and the registered manager who is also the provider.

We reviewed a range of documentation including three care plans, risk assessments, medication records, records for four staff, staff training records, policies and procedures, auditing records, health and safety records and other records relating to how the service was managed.

Updated 25 October 2018

Angels Care Wirral Ltd is registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of the inspection there were 16 people using the service most of whom lived in Wallasey and the surrounding area. The provider employed 17 care staff, a co-coordinator and a supervisor.

This comprehensive inspection took place on 25 September and 1 October 2018 and was announced. Following the last inspection in July 2018 we asked the provider to complete an action plan to show what they would do and by when to improve the key questions of safe, and well led to achieve a Good rating.

At this inspection we found there had been improvements in all required areas and we found that the breaches in relation to Regulations 17 and 18 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities). Regulations 2014. Had been met. These breaches related to staff support, training and good governance.

The service had a registered manager. 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 provider had ensured robust systems were in place for reviewing, monitoring and assessing the quality of the service. The provider was undertaking their own internal audits of the records; therefore they were now able to demonstrate how they monitored and identified any shortfalls and showed they had taken action to drive improvements.

The provider had ensured that staff received regular support, training and supervision and had the skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and support needs. Training materials were up to date and did reflect current good practice guidelines and legislation.

People received their medicines on time and the information available to staff about people's medicines was up to date. There were risk assessments in place so that staff would had the guidance they needed to ensure people received their medicines safely.

People's risk assessments were in place and had been updated and reviewed to reflect changes in their needs.

Care records were informative and up-to-date. Each person using the service had a personalised support plan and risk assessment. All records we saw were complete, up to date and regularly reviewed. We found that people and their relatives were involved in decisions about their care and support.

We found that recruitment practices were in place which included the completion of pre-employment checks prior to a new member of staff working at the service and disciplinary procedures had been followed appropriately and in accordance with policies. Staff received a comprehensive induction programme, regular training and supervision to enable them to work safely and effectively. There was also an up to date staff handbook that all staff were given and also staff were informed when there were any updates.

People's GPs and other healthcare professionals were contacted for advice about people’s health needs whenever necessary and when people requested their support.

The provider had systems in place to ensure that people were protected from the risk of harm or abuse. We saw there were policies and procedures in place and training to guide staff in relation to safeguarding vulnerable adults.

The service had quality assurance processes in place including service user questionnaires. The service’s policies and procedures had been reviewed and updated in 2018 by the provider and these included policies on health and safety, confidentiality, mental capacity, medication, whistle blowing, safeguarding and recruitment.

People told us they were happy with the staff and felt that the staff understood their care and support needs. The three people we spoke with and two relatives had no complaints about the service. The provider had a complaints procedure in place and this was available in the ‘Service User Guide’ and in place at the homes of the three people we visited.