Background to this inspection
Updated
7 August 2021
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
This inspection was completed by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. A manager was registered with the Care Quality Commission at the time of inspection, however they had applied to cancel their registration; this was being processed and they no longer worked for the provider. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was announced. We gave the service short notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the nominated individual (who was also one of the Directors) would be in the office to support the inspection. Inspection activity started on 13 July 2021 and ended on 20 July 2021. We visited the office location on 20 July 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. The provider had completed a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with three relatives of people who received care from the service. We spoke with five members of staff including the nominated individual, the interim support manager and three care assistants.
We reviewed a range of records. This included the relevant parts of three people’s care records and medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
7 August 2021
About the service
Radfield Home Care Derby, Ashbourne & South Derbyshire is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. At the time of the inspection it provided around 200 hours of support each week to 19 people, 18 of whom required personal care. 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
The registered manager was not working for the provider at the time of the inspection and had applied to cancel their registration; the nominated individual had plans in place for the management of the service and recruitment of a new registered manager. Systems were in place for the governance and oversight of the service, including the quality and safety of care, however not all incidents had been reported to CQC in a timely manner. Staff were clear on their roles and responsibilities and were valued by the provider. People were positive about the service they received and found the nominated individual approachable and supportive.
Staff were motivated to provide a caring service to people. People felt well cared for and staff understood the importance of people’s emotional well-being. The service valued relationships with people and their relatives and actively involved them. The principles of privacy, dignity and independence were firmly embedded in the care provided.
People were central to their care and as a result had choice and control and were involved in care decisions. Staff had a detailed and thorough understanding of people’s health, care and communication needs as well as knowing what they were interested in. Care was focussed on achieving positive outcomes for people and staff actively took steps to reduce social isolation and promote people’s involvement in their communities. Concerns and complaints were viewed by the service as opportunities to learn and improve. When people required end of life care, this was planned sensitively with people and their relatives.
People received safe care and staff understood how to reduce risks to people, including the risks of avoidable harm and abuse. Safety management processes were in place and followed so that any incidents were reported and reviewed for lessons learnt.
Procedures were in place and followed for the safe management and administration of medicines and infection prevention and control.
Pre-employment checks were made on staff to ensure they were suitable for the role. There were enough staff to meet people’s needs and care calls were planned to ensure the same staff supported people, they could arrive on time and stay for the full duration of the call.
People’s needs were assessed, and staff had the skills and knowledge to effectively meet people’s needs. Staff were supported with their professional development and received support in supervision and appraisal meetings.
Where people received care to help with their meals and drinks this was provided, and assessments of people’s needs helped staff to do this effectively. Other health and social care professionals were involved in people’s care when needed.
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
This service was registered with us on 27 April 2020 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection.
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.