Background to this inspection
Updated
11 June 2019
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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide 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 homes. It provides a service to adults, children and young people.
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: This was an unannounced inspection. The inspection site visit took place on 14 May 2019. We visited the office location to see the registered manager and office staff; and to review care records and policies and procedures. On the same day we spoke with staff and visited people with their permission in their own homes. We also spoke with people who used the service and staff by telephone on 17 May 2019.
What we did: Providers are required to send us key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We reviewed this information together with information sent to us about events in the service to plan our inspection. We also contacted professionals including local authority commissioners and the local authority safeguarding team.
During inspection: We spoke with four people who used the service and six relatives. We also spoke with six staff including the registered manager, the service coordinator and care staff.
We reviewed three people’s care documents and gathered information from other records held by the provider. These included audits, and accidents and incidents.
After inspection: We reviewed the evidence provided to us during the inspection. We will continue to monitor the service.
Updated
11 June 2019
About the service: Silver Tree Limited provides care at home for six people who receive personal care.
People’s experience of using this service: People and their relatives felt safe using this service. They told us they trusted staff who respected their choices and preferences.
Pre-employment checks were carried out before staff began working in the service. Staff were supported using induction and supervision. They were trained a range of topics to meet people’s needs including medicines administration and food hygiene. Further support was provided by the registered manager via an on-call service to ensure staff had back up support when required.
People were protected from harm by staff who understood safeguarding. Staff told us they felt confident reporting concerns to the registered manager and believed actions would be taken to protect people. People’s personal risks had been identified and steps put in place to minimise those risks.
The provider had systems in place to monitor the service including accidents and complaints. There had been no accidents or complaints since our last inspection.
Partnership working with relatives and other professionals meant people’s care needs were effectively met. There were enough staff employed by the service to meet people’s needs.
Staff provided appropriate support to people and did not discriminate against them. Staff from differing ethnic and religious backgrounds told us they felt comfortable working in the service. Contractual arrangements were in place with a national children’s charity to provide staff to support children and young people with disabilities.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.
The service continues to be well-led. People and their relatives were complimentary about the registered manager. The service had recently received external recognition for the safe and secure use of people’s information.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection: Good (Last report published December 2016.)
Why we inspected: This inspection was carried out in line with our inspection scheduling.
Follow up: We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive and discussions with partner agencies.