Chislehurst Homecare Partnership

Updated 21 August 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 was a comprehensive inspection. The inspection took place on 12 June 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because it is small service and the registered manager is often out of the office and we needed to be sure that they would be in. This inspection was carried out by a one inspector and an expert by experience.

Before our inspection we reviewed information we held about the service. This included information from our previous inspection reports. We asked the provider to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to share with us some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used this information in the planning of this inspection.

During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager and the office manager. We looked at a range of records including four staff files, six people’s care plans and other records relating to the management of the service. After our inspection visit we spoke with two people, six relatives and two members of staff.

Updated 21 August 2018

This inspection took place on 12 June 2018 and was announced. We gave the registered manager 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the service is small and we needed to be sure the registered manager would be available.

68 Oak Avenue is a domiciliary care agency that provides personal care and support to people living in their own homes, many of whom were older people. Not everyone using 68 Oak Avenue receives the 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. All of the people using the service funded their own care and lived in the London Borough of Bromley.

The service had a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have a legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

At our last inspection of 68 Oak Avenue in May 2016 we gave the service an overall rating of ‘Good’. At this inspection we found the service remained ‘Good.’

People continued to feel that their care and support was safely delivered. Staff were trained to safeguard people against neglect and improper treatment. There were enough suitable staff available to meet people’s needs safely and to ensure people did not experience missed care visits. People’s risks were identified and the risk of them occurring were reduced as a result of care plans put in place by the service.

People and their relatives continued to participate in needs assessments. Trained and experienced staff continued to meet people’s assessed needs. Staff met people’s nutritional needs and where required supported people to access healthcare services. People’s consent was sought and they were treated in accordance with the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Caring staff continued to deliver care and support in a way that promoted people’s dignity and demonstrated respect. A consistent staff team meant that people were supported by staff with whom they were familiar and shared positive, trusting relationships. Staff enabled people to maintain their independence where this was possible.

68 Oak Avenue continued to provided people with individualised care. Care plans were personalised and reflected people’s preferences. People chose the times at which they received their care and support and understood the provider’s complaints procedure.

The service planned and delivered by 68 Oak Avenue continued to be well-led. The views of people and their relatives continued to be gathered to shape the service being provided and staff felt listened to. Audits were in place to check the quality of the service and the provider worked collaboratively with other agencies.