Background to this inspection
Updated
18 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
This inspection was carried out by an 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 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 13 February 2023 and ended on 24 February 2023. We visited the location’s office/service on 14 February 2023.
What we did before the inspection
The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed information we had received about the service since its registration. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with 5 people who used the service and 5 family members about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 6 members of staff including the regional manager, a care co-ordinator and 4 care workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included 5 people's care records and 4 medication records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits and policies and procedures were reviewed.
We spoke with the registered manager of the service when they returned from annual leave and continued to liaise with management around the supply of evidence.
Updated
18 March 2023
About the service
Lifestyle by Homecare Services (Trafford) is a domiciliary care agency that provides personal care and wider support to people living in their own homes in the community. The provider supports people with varying levels of care, some with long-term health conditions. At the time of our inspection there were 42 people 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, their relatives and staff told us Lifestyle by Homecare Services (Trafford) delivered a safe service. Policies and procedures were in place to guide staff on how to keep people safe and what they had to do if they had concerns.
Medicines were managed safely. Risk assessments and appropriate care plans had been developed to meet people's needs. Staff knew how to identify and raise concerns about safety; they were confident the service would take them seriously.
Processes were in place to ensure the right staff were safely recruited. Staff received a thorough induction and relevant training to help them meet people's needs. There were enough staff at the time of the inspection. There were safe infection control procedures in place, including enough supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE).
People received a caring service and felt supported and valued as individuals. Core teams of staff supported the same people as much as possible. This meant that the staff knew the people they cared for well. Staff understood how to promote people's independence and ensured the care they provided treated people with dignity and respect. People's communication needs were considered and met.
People's needs were fully assessed prior to the delivery of care and support. Staff supported people to maintain their health and wellbeing by accessing healthcare services which positively supported their health. People's needs and preferences were highlighted in their care plans for staff to follow and changes were made as people's needs changed.
The registered manager understood their responsibilities. Quality assurance processes were robust. The registered manager, supported by other key senior staff, could monitor standards of care delivery with a range of checks and audits. Staff were well supported by the registered manager and other senior staff. Staff were aware of the company's values and staff practice ensured that people using the service remained safe and well.
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.
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 1 September 2021 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.