Background to this inspection
Updated
18 March 2020
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
The inspection was carried out 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.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
We gave a short period notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 3 January 2020 and ended on 14 January 2020. We visited the office location on 3 January 2020.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection, including notifications. Notifications are information about specific important events the service is legally required to send to us. The provider was not asked to complete 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 one of the provider’s representatives, the registered manager and the staff trainer. We reviewed a range of records, including seven people’s care records and medication records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We also viewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.
After the inspection
We spoke with seven people and their relatives, who were receiving care and support from the service. We received feedback from two health and social care professionals involved with the service and spoke with five members of care staff.
Updated
18 March 2020
About the service
Home Instead Senior Care is a domiciliary care agency providing care and support to people living in their own homes who have a range of needs. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of the inspection 47 people were receiving personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People received a good service with exceptional standards of kindness and compassion. People and their relatives described the attitude of staff as “excellent” and “exceptional”. Staff showed empathy and a genuine affection for the people they cared for. There was a clear commitment to building trusting and caring relationships with people to enhance their lives as much as possible.
People's privacy and dignity were respected, and care was delivered in a way that promoted people's independence. The provider advocated for people's rights and supported them to access community support systems.
Appropriate safeguarding procedures protected people from the risk of abuse. There were enough staff to meet people's needs and they had been recruited safely. Individual and environmental risks were managed appropriately. People received their medicines safely and as prescribed.
Staff received appropriate training and support to enable them to carry out their role effectively.
The service worked well with health and social care professionals to ensure people received effective care.
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. Staff sought people's consent and supported people to make choices about their care.
People received personalised care which met their specific needs, Care plans were clear, detailed and person-centred, which guided staff on the most appropriate way to support them. A complaints procedure was in place, which ensured concerns were investigated and acted upon appropriately.
Where required, arrangements were in place to support people in a dignified manner at the end of their life.
People and their relatives felt the service was run well. A clear management structure was in place and feedback about the service was sought from people, their relatives and staff. Quality assurance systems were in place to assess, monitor and improve the service.
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 3 May 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.