Homescare Ltd

Updated 10 May 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 was carried out by 1 inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their 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 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.

What we did before the inspection

This was the first inspection of a newly registered service. We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with 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

During the inspection we spoke with 7 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager and 5 care staff. We looked at 5 care plans and associated documents including risk assessments. We looked at a range of documents including 5 staff files, audits, accident and incident reports and medicine administration records (MAR). We spoke with 3 people that used the service, 5 relatives and 2 professionals.

Updated 10 May 2023

About the service

HomesCare Limited is a domiciliary care agency providing care and support to people in their own homes. At the time of the inspection care was being provided to 18 people. Some people lived with dementia and other health conditions for example, diabetes and conditions that affected their mobility.

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

Some documentation had not been completed relating to records of supervision meetings with staff, staff induction and decision specific mental capacity assessments and best interest meetings. The registered manager acknowledged this and took immediate steps to start completing the missing records. These records however needed time to be implemented and then embed into daily practice.

People, relatives and staff all spoke highly of the registered manager who demonstrated visible leadership and was always available to provide guidance and support. People and relatives had opportunities to provide feedback about the service and told us they were confident that issues would be acted on. The staff team was in daily contact with the registered manager and similarly, told us they were confident to raise suggestions about the service. Auditing processes were in place and the registered manager had a clear vision about the future where people’s care and support remained at the centre of all future plans.

People were protected from harm and told us that they felt safe when care was being provided. Risks to people had been identified and assessments were in place to inform and guide staff in an emergency. Staff had been recruited safely and some people were supported with their medicines. All staff had been trained in administration of medicines. Staff were aware of infection prevention and control best practice and accidents and incidents had been recorded with any learning shared with all staff.

A pre-assessment process was carried out by the registered manager or their deputy. These assessments involved people, their loved ones and where necessary other professionals involved in the person’s care and support. Staff had the required experience and training to support people’s needs. Some people were supported with eating and drinking and food preparation.

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.

People told us that staff treated them kindly and with respect. A member of staff told us, “I listen to their stories and talk to them, try and bring as much sunshine into their lives as possible.” People’s privacy and dignity were protected and differences in faith and culture respected. Everyone was supported to be as independent as possible with staff on hand to make sure activities and tasks were carried out safely.

Support was provided to people in a person centred way that suited their daily routines and their health needs. When required people were supported with health and social care appointments. Some people had communication needs relating to their health and these were met by staff. People told us they knew how to raise issues or complain if needed. Staff had been trained in end of life care and knew the important aspects of supporting people at that stage of their lives.

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 19 November 2022 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.