Archived: Home Care Services

Updated 4 July 2017

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 02 and 08 June 2017

The inspection was carried out by one inspector. The provider was given one weeks' notice so arrangements could be made for us to visit people in their own homes.

When planning our inspection we looked at the information we held about the service including any notifications received from the provider about deaths, accidents/incidents and safeguarding alerts which they are required to send us by law.

The provider had not completed a Provider Information Return (PIR), because of difficulties with the portal that is used to complete this. The PIR is a form that asks the provider to offer some key Information about the service they provide to assist with the inspection. We also considered information shared with us by Commissioners of the service.

We visited three people in their homes. We spoke with nine staff and 11 people or their relative about the service provided. We looked at care files of three people. We reviewed a range of records about people's care and how the service was managed. These included care records, medicine administration records (MAR) sheets, staff training, employment records, complaint and accident records and quality assurance audits that the provider used to monitor the service provided

Updated 4 July 2017

The Inspection took place on the 02 and 08 June 2017. Home Care Service is a domiciliary care agency which offers personal care, companionship and domestic help to support people living in their own home.

At our last inspection the service was rated as requires improvement. Improvements were required in the administration and support provided to people with their medicine and systems for monitoring the service provided for people.

At this inspection the provider had taken the appropriate action to improve. The service had systems in place to monitor and provide good care and these were reviewed on a regular basis. People were supported to take their medication by staff who had received training to do so. The audit completed in relation to medicine, showed that the records were in good order. However staff did not always record the time of homely remedies when given. This was not reflected in the audits completed so improvement could be made.

Care and treatment was planned and delivered in a way that was intended to ensure people's safety and welfare. People were cared for safely by staff who had been recruited and employed after appropriate checks had been completed. There were sufficient staff to meet people's needs consistently.

People were cared for and supported by staff who had received training to support people to meet their needs. The registered manager had a good understanding of their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People were supported to eat and drink enough to ensure they maintained a balanced diet and referrals to other health professionals were made when required.

Staff cared for people in an empathetic and kind manner. Staff had a good understanding of people's preferences of care. Staff always worked hard to promote people's independence through encouraging and supporting people to make informed decisions.

People and their relatives were involved in the planning and review of their care. Care plans were reviewed on a regular basis and also when there was a change in care needs. Staff, people, and their relatives spoke very highly of the registered manager, the organisation and staff.