Bolff Healthcare Services Ltd

Updated 16 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

This 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 a 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

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 reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager and we reviewed a range of records. These included care records for three people. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment, spot checks and supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures, were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training provided by the registered manager. We spoke with three people and we contacted three people’s relatives and four members of staff to obtain their opinion on the quality of care provided.

Updated 16 November 2022

About the service

Bolff Healthcare Services Ltd is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of our inspection there were 4 people receiving support with personal care.

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

Where staff were required to administer medicines, there were clear guidelines in place for staff to follow to ensure these were given safely. However, we identified gaps in medication administration records (MAR) charts. Staff were recruited following safe recruitment processes. These included the employer obtaining character and background checks. However, employment checks were not always carried out by the provider. We raised this with the registered manager who acted immediately and provided us with evidence of updated employment checks for their staff. People told us they felt safe using the service. Systems were in place to protect people from the risk of harm or abuse. Risks to people's safety and wellbeing were assessed and risk reducing measures were documented in their care plans for staff to follow.

People received support from a regular group of staff who knew them and understood their support needs. Staff received training that enabled them to provide the care and support that people needed. Staff received regular supervision and support from the registered manager. People's health needs were met, they were supported to have access to healthcare services when they needed them. People told us staff were attentive to their health needs and would seek guidance when necessary.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff provided them with care them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service promoted this practice.

People were treated with dignity, respect and kindness. Staff understood their responsibilities to respect people's right to privacy, confidentiality and to promote their independence.

Although no one using the service required end of life care at the time of this inspection, systems were in place to ensure people received the right support to have a comfortable, dignified and pain-free death.

People, their representatives and staff spoke positively about the management of the service. The registered manager conducted thorough investigations of any safeguarding concerns which were brought to their attention.

We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.

At the time of the inspection, the location did not care for or support anyone with a learning disability or an autistic person. However, we assessed the care provision under Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture, as it is registered as a specialist service for this population group.

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 22 September 2021 and this is its first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.