Background to this inspection
Updated
15 November 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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Inspection team
The 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 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 48 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 24 October 2022 and ended on 28 October 2022. We visited the location’s office on 24 October 2022.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with 1 person who used the service and 3 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 5 members of staff including the operations manager, 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. This included 4 people’s care records, 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and a variety of records relating to the management of the service.
Updated
15 November 2022
About the service
Your Quality Care Services (Debden) is a domiciliary care agency providing care to people living within a retirement village. 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. At the time of our inspection there were four people receiving personal care support.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were supported by a small and consistent staff team who knew them well and understood how they liked to be supported. The provider had processes in place to check staff were safely recruited; however, not all relevant information was documented for new applicants. We have made a recommendation about the provider’s recruitment processes.
People’s care was personalised. People were able to make choices about how they received their care and the provider responded flexibly to meet people’s support preferences. Staff arrived at the agreed time and people had not experienced any missed care visits. 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.
Risks to people’s safety were assessed and monitored and the provider had systems in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse. Staff knew how to recognise and report any concerns about people’s safety. Staff received medicines training and the provider had processes in place to monitor the safe administration of medicines. The provider ensured staff had access to appropriate personal protective equipment [PPE] and safe infection prevention and control processes were in place.
People and relatives told us the staff were kind and caring in their support. Staff received an induction when starting in their role and had completed a range of relevant training to develop their skills and knowledge. Staff told us they felt supported in their roles and were able to give feedback and discuss any issues in the service.
The provider had effective systems in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service. People’s relatives spoke positively about the culture and leadership of the service. They told us the management team were approachable and quick to respond to any feedback or concerns. The provider worked alongside other healthcare professionals when appropriate in order to meet people’s needs and support them to achieve good outcomes.
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 17 August 2021 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection as the service had not been rated since its registration.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.