Carlene Home Care Services

Carlene Home Care Services is domiciliary care service providing personal care to people living in their own homes and in a supported living service at one house in Wallington with shared facilities and staff available at all times. At the time of the inspection, there were 2 people receiving personal care at the supported living service who were adults with a learning disability and/or autism. 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

Right Support: Model of Care and setting that maximises people’s choice, control and independence

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. Staff supported people in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

Right Care: Care is person-centred and promotes people’s dignity, privacy and human rights

There were enough staff to support people safely and at the agreed times. The provider checked staff were suitable to work with people through recruitment checks. Staff received training in infection control practices, including the safe use of personal protective equipment (PPE) to reduce the risk of infections. People received the right support in relation to their medicines.

Right Culture: The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of leaders and care staff ensure people using services lead confident, inclusive and empowered lives.

The registered manager and staff team understood their role and responsibilities. The registered manager engaged and consulted well with people using the service and staff. Staff were supported by the registered manager. The registered manager understood their responsibility to notify CQC of significant events as required by law although none had been required.

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

Rating at last inspection

At our last inspection we rated the service good (report published September 2018).

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.

Carlene Home Care Service is a domiciliary care agency and provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. It provides a service to adults with and learning disabilities and autistic spectrum disorders.

Not everyone using Carlene Homecare receives regulated activity. CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also take into account any wider social care provided. There were two people receiving personal care at the time of the inspection.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run. Relatives and staff spoke positively of the leadership and management of the service.

The registered manager understood their responsibility to comply with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

The support people received had been developed and designed in line with the values that underpin the Building the Right Support and other best practice guidance. These values include choice, promotion of independence and inclusion. People with a learning disability were supported to live as ordinary a life as any citizen. People’s choices and preferences were fully respected. Staff treated people in a kind, caring and dignified manner. Staff understood people’s individual communication needs and made appropriate adjustments to aid effective communication.

Assessments of people's care and support needs were carried out before they started using the service. Their care and support were reviewed on a regular basis to ensure their needs continued to be met by staff. People's care files included assessments relating to their dietary support needs. Staff supported people to maintain a balanced diet and monitor their nutritional health.

Staff worked in partnership with health care professionals which helped improve the outcomes of people's health and well-being. Staff made referrals to health care professionals when people's care needs changed. Medicines were managed appropriately and people received their medicines as prescribed by health care professionals.

Safe recruitment procedures were followed before new staff were appointed. Appropriate checks were undertaken to ensure staff were of good character and were suitable for their role. Staff completed an induction when they started to work for the provider. Staff had the necessary skills, knowledge and experience to support people safely and effectively in their own homes. There was enough staff available to meet people's care and support needs.

Staff received training in infection control and they were aware of the steps to take to reduce the risk of the spread of infections. Staff had an ample supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) such as gloves and aprons.

Risks to people had been assessed and reviewed regularly to ensure their needs were safely met. Accidents and incidents were recorded and monitored. The service had safeguarding and whistle-blowing procedures in place. Staff had received safeguarding training and understood their responsibilities to report any concerns and incidents of alleged abuse.

People and their relatives could raise concerns and appropriate action was taken by the service to resolve their concerns. The registered manager monitored and reviewed the quality of the service. Audits were in place; where shortfalls were identified action was taken to make improvements.

have any service users at the time of this inspection.

We were told by the Proprietor that it is expected that new service users will be receiving a service in the near future.