Archived: Derbyshire Homecare Limited

Updated 3 August 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on the 5 July 2016 and was announced.

The provider was given 24 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service.

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

We reviewed the information that the provider is required to send us by law which included notifications of significant events that affect the health and safety of people who used the service.

We spoke with a family member of someone who used the service and a social worker for a second person. We spoke with the registered manager and two care staff.

As part of the inspection we spoke with a member of staff from the Derby City council brokerage team.

We looked at the records of the three people who used the service, which included their plans of care, risk assessments, medicine administration records and records detailing the care provided. We also looked at the recruitment files of three staff and a range of policies and procedures.

Updated 3 August 2016

This inspection took place on the 5 July 2016 and was announced.

Derbyshire Homecare Limited is registered to provide personal care and support for people living within their own homes. At the time of our inspection there were six people using the service. People’s packages of care varied dependent upon their needs. The provider employed eight members of staff who provided people’s care and support.

The service had a registered manager. 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.

People were supported in their own homes, and representatives of people using the service told us they believed people were safe and comfortable and were happy with the service being provided. Systems were in place to ensure that people who used the service were protected from the risk of abuse. The registered manager and staff had received training in safeguarding adults from abuse and were aware of the procedures to follow if they suspected that someone was at risk of harm.

People were supported by a small and consistent team of staff who had supported them for many years, and whom they felt confident with. Staff had very good knowledge and insight into the needs of the people they cared for and spoke passionately about the support they provided and about the professional working relationship that had developed over many years.

People, and in some instances family members were involved in the developing and reviewing of care plans, which had been signed by them. In addition people had been provided with information about the service, which included a contract with the provider that they had signed.

People were offered support in a way that upheld their dignity and promoted their independence. Care plans were written in a personalised way based on the needs of the person concerned to ensure the staff had information on people’s preferences so that the care and support provided maintained people’s independence and promoted their choices.

Staff were trained and supported people with their medicine as required. People were supported where required, to access external healthcare professionals and other agencies in order to ensure their healthcare needs were fully met.

Systems were in place to ensure that people were supported by staff that were of good character and able to carry out the work. Staff received on-going training, and met with the registered manager to discuss their work and talk about the health and welfare of those they supported.

A formal quality assurance and audit system was not in place; however the size of the service meant the registered manager was able to maintain a good oversight of the service. We found records to be in good order with regards to people using the service and the staff employed.

Staff, along with representatives of people using the service spoke positively about the registered manager and their management of the service.