Own Care LTD

Updated 1 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

The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type

Own Care Ltd is a domiciliary care agency registered to provide personal care to people in their own homes.

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 CQC 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 two working days' notice of the inspection because the service provides care to people in their own homes and we wanted to make sure that management were available on the day of the inspection site visit.

Inspection activity started on 31 January 2023 and ended on 13 February 2023. We visited the location's office on 31 January 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since it was registered with the CQC. 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.

During the inspection

During the site visit we met and spoke with the registered manager, office manager and director.

We viewed a range of records. We looked at care records for 3 people. We also looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment, training and support. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits, policies and procedures were reviewed.

We spoke with 1 person who received care and 2 people’s relatives. We also spoke with 2 care workers. We also obtained feedback from 1 care professional who has had contact with the service.

Updated 1 March 2023

About the service

Own Care Ltd is a domiciliary care agency registered to provide personal care to people in their own homes. The service provides support to people of different abilities. The services they provide include personal care, medicines support, housework and companionship. At the time of inspection, the service provided personal care to four people. The Care Quality Commission (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:

People and relatives were complimentary about how the service operated and told us care workers were caring, kind and respectful. People's privacy, dignity and independence was respected and promoted.

Recruitment checks were carried out prior to care workers being employed by the service. However, there were instances where referee details were limited and there was a lack of evidence to confirm that character references had been verified to check their credibility and authenticity. We have made a recommendation in respect of this.

People felt safe. There were processes in place to safeguard people from abuse. Risks to people's safety were assessed and reviewed. There was guidance for staff to follow to know how to keep people safe from harm. Staff understood their responsibilities and could recognise and report abuse.

Staff followed infection prevention and control guidance to minimise risks related to the spread of infection.

People's care needs were assessed and reviewed. Staff completed training to know how to care for people effectively. 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.

Care plans included information about people's interests and important things in their life. Information documented was specific to each person. People received care that was responsive to their needs and preferences.

There were effective systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service. The registered manager responded appropriately to drive improvements. Staff told us they were well supported by the registered manager.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The service was registered with us on 9 November 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected:

This was a planned comprehensive inspection to review the key questions, Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led and rate this service.

The inspection was prompted because the service has not had an inspection and a rating since it was first registered with us.

Follow up

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