Generations Care Agency Limited

Updated 8 February 2020

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 Care Act 2014.

Inspection team

The 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 homes.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service two working days’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 7th January and ended on 8th January 2020. We visited the office location on 8th January 2020. We made phone calls to people and relatives on 7th January 2019.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we held about the service since the last inspection. This included statutory notifications that had been submitted. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us. 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. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We took all this information into account when we made the judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We spoke with six people and two relatives on the telephone and visited one person who had agreed for us to visit them in their own home. At the registered office we spoke with six staff and the registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records which included four people’s care records, along with a variety of risk assessments and daily log sheets. We also reviewed information which detailed when people had their support visits, quality monitoring, and records in relation to the management of the service including some of the policies and procedures. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment, training and supervision.

After the inspection

We received feedback from two health and social care professionals who been involved with the service.

Updated 8 February 2020

About the service

Generation Care Limited is a domiciliary care provider providing personal care to people living in their own homes, so they can live as independently as possible. 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. There were 67 people receiving regulated personal care activity at the time of the inspection.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People were mostly supported by a regular team of care staff and said they generally received their calls on time. People were confident care staff had received appropriate training to meet their needs; this was in line with best practice and current guidelines. When people required support with their nutritional needs this was recorded and reflective of the individual’s needs.

There were enough staff to effectively meet the current packages of care. People were supported by staff who had the knowledge and skills to ensure they were safe from harm. Risk assessments were in place to help reduce risks to people. Staff were safely recruited. Medicines were managed safely, and staff ensured clear infection control practices.

The care was provided by kind and caring staff and people told us they treated them with respect. Care plans reflected individual needs and any communication requirements were identified and supported along with any cultural, or religious needs. Care staff understood the importance of respecting people’s diverse needs and promoting independence.

The service supported people to receive the right care and support. Health care was promoted, by staff making prompt referrals when required to relevant health care professionals.

People and relatives knew how to make a complaint about the service if they needed to. The registered manager had followed the complaints process when a complaint had been received. The service had reflected on incidents, and lessons had been learned. People and staff were encouraged to give feedback. Auditing and quality assurance processes were completed to support the drive for improvement.

The service was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act. 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

The last rating for this service was Good (published August 2017).

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.