Background to this inspection
Updated
18 December 2018
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is 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 site visit activity started on 20 November 2018. The inspection was carried out by an adult social care inspector.
Before the inspection we looked at all the information we had about the service. This information included statutory notifications that the provider had sent to CQC. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. The provider had also completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give us some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also contacted the local authority responsible for monitoring the quality of the service to obtain their views. We used this information to help inform our inspection planning.
We visited the office location on 20 and 21 November 2018. We met with the registered manager who was also part of the provider partnership, four members of staff and the deputy manager. We looked at four people's care records, staff training and recruitment records and records relating to the management of the service. We also visited two homes where we spoke with four people who used the service.
Updated
18 December 2018
Mrs Lavinia Dawn Bellis & Mr Andrew William Bellis is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes in the community and supported living schemes. This arrangement is so that people can live as independently as possible. At the time of the inspection the provider was providing personal care to nine people. People's care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) does not regulate premises when people are living in their own home or at assisted living schemes; this inspection looked at people's personal care and support.
This inspection took place on 20 and 21 November 2018. We gave the provider 2 days' notice of the inspection as we needed to make sure the registered manager would be available.
At our last inspection on 7 March 2016 we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection
The service had 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.
Recruitment checks took place before staff started work but we have made a recommendation in the 'Safe' section of the report around the need for more robust pre-recruitment checks. The service had safeguarding and whistle-blowing procedures in place and staff had a clear understanding of these procedures. There was enough staff available to meet people’s care and support needs. Risks to people had been assessed and reviewed regularly to ensure their needs were safely met. Medicines were managed appropriately, and people were receiving their medicines as prescribed by health care professionals.
Staff completed an induction when they started work and they received training relevant to people’s needs. They had received training in infection control and food hygiene and they were aware of the steps to take to reduce the risk of the spread of infections. Assessments of people’s care and support needs were carried out before they started using the service. People’s care files included assessments relating to their dietary support needs. 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 support this practice.
The service was caring. Staff cared for people in an empathetic and kind manner. Staff had a good understanding of people's preferences of care. Staff always worked hard to promote people's independence through encouraging and supporting people to make informed choices.
People and their relatives had been consulted about their care and support needs. Most people could communicate their needs effectively and could understand information in the current written format provided. Most of this was provided in an easy to read or pictorial format. People and their relatives said they were confident their complaints would be listened to and acted on. Staff said they would support people according to their diverse needs.
The registered manager and management staff had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and acted according to this legislation. People had access to health care professionals when they needed them.
The provider recognised the importance of monitoring the quality of the service provided to people. They took people’s views into account through telephone monitoring calls, spot checks and satisfaction surveys. Staff said they enjoyed working at the service and they received good support from the registered manager. There was an out of hours on call system in operation that ensured management support and advice was always available for staff when they needed it.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.