Farmhouse Care Agency

Updated 30 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 1 inspector and an Expert by Experience, who made telephone calls to people and their relatives. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living 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 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 24 hours’ 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 started on 7 March 2023 and ended on 9 March 2023. We visited the office location on 7 and 8 March 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed the information we held about this service during the planning for this inspection. 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 key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan for our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with 3 people who used the service and 6 relatives, about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 5 members of staff including the registered manager and care staff. We received written feedback from a health and social care professional.

We reviewed a range of records. This included 6 people’s support and care plans, daily records, and 6 people’s medicine administration records.

We also looked at a range of records relating to the management and monitoring of the service. These included staffing rotas, three staff recruitment, supervision and training records, spot check observation records and a range of the providers quality assurance records, policies and procedures.

Updated 30 March 2023

About the service

Farmhouse Care Agency is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care and support to people living in their own homes. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. At the time of this inspection 16 people were receiving the regulated activity of personal care from the service. 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

Without exception people and their relatives told us they were extremely happy with the support they received from Farmhouse Care Agency. People told us they were kept informed of any changes and felt involved in their care. Staff knew people well and understood how they preferred their care and support to be delivered.

People had risk assessments completed for them. These were then used to develop person centred care plans which guided staff on how to care for people safely. Care plans were updated to ensure people received effective care and support. Staff received the training they needed to support people safely and liaised with health and social care professionals if they needed further guidance regarding people’s health.

People were protected from abuse and avoidable harm. People felt safe with staff, who had the appropriate training and skills to provide care safely and effectively.

Safe recruitment practices were followed, and appropriate checks completed to ensure that only suitable staff were employed. There was an ongoing process of staff recruitment to ensure people were supported safely and effectively. Staff received an appropriate induction and were well supported through a programme of regular supervision and training.

Medicines were managed and administered safely. People were supported to take their medicines safely by staff who had received training to administer medicines.

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 received personalised care which was responsive to their individual needs. Staff had a good understanding of the care and support people needed and provided this with kindness and care, whilst respecting their privacy and dignity. People received their care from a small, consistent team of care staff who knew their care and support needs well.

The service involved people and where appropriate their families with their day to day care and support needs. Relatives and people felt listened to and were consulted about how they preferred to receive their care and support.

People felt the service was well led, friendly and professional. Staff felt well supported in their roles and appreciated the open and supportive approach taken by the management team.

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 30/06/2022 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about the service.

Follow up

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