The College Business Centre

Updated 22 March 2022

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

The College Business Centre is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses, flats and specialist housing in Chesterfield and surrounding areas. At the time of the inspection the service were supporting eleven service users with their end of life care. There was a registered manager at the time of this inspection. The registered manager was also the nominated individual and provider. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. The registered manager 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 the service one day's notice of the inspection. This was because we wanted to speak with people and their relatives and care staff; we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 7 March 2022 and ended on 8 March 2022. Phone calls were made to people and their relatives and staff on 8 March 2022. We visited the office location on 7 March 2022. We continued to review evidence the registered manager sent us until the 11 March 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We used information received about the service since it registered with the Commission. The provider had not been asked for a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We reviewed a range of records including the relevant sections of three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We reviewed other records related to the management of the service, including policies, training records and audits.

We spoke with one person and four relatives of people who used the care service. We spoke with five members of staff, including the registered manager, deputy manager and three care staff.

What we did after the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.

Updated 22 March 2022

About the service

The College Business Centre is a domiciliary care service. It provides care for people living in their own houses and flats. People are supported in their own homes so that they can live as independently as possible. CQC regulates the personal care and support. There were eleven people who received personal care at the time of the inspection. 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

People and families felt care staff knew them well and provided care to meet their needs safely. Care plans and risk assessments were in place, however some lacked detail. Care staff were trained and assessed as competent to administer medicines safely. However, some changes were required to ensure records of medicines were kept in line with good practice.

The registered manager completed pre-employment recruitment checks to ensure staff were suitable to work at the service. Care staff received training and support to help them provide safe care to people. Care staff knew how to recognise potential abuse and how to report it to promote people’s safety. Risks from the transmission of infections, including from COVID-19, were identified and managed.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and care staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People’s needs and choices were reflected in any assessments completed. Care staff completed induction training and had on-going training and support in areas relevant to people’s care needs. Where people received care to help with their nutrition, their needs had been assessed and information was available to care staff on how to reduce any known risks. Care staff worked with any other relevant health and social care professionals when required to ensure people received effective care.

Care staff were caring, polite and professional. People’s equality and diversity needs were respected. Care staff provided respectful care and promoted people’s dignity and independence. People were involved in decisions about their care.

People received responsive and personalised care. People were supported to have choice and control over their care. Any communication needs were assessed to help ensure communication with people was effective. Care staff took steps to help reduce social isolation for people. Systems were in place to respond to any complaints or feedback and improve care quality. People received end of life care that helped to promote their comfort and choices.

Audits and spot checks were in place to help ensure the quality and safety of services and these had been mostly effective. Statutory notifications were submitted as required and policies and procedures were in place to support governance of the service. The service looked to continuously learn and improve care. The service was led with an open and approachable management style. People, relatives and care staff felt involved and able to contribute. Care staff felt valued. The service worked well in partnership with others to achieve good outcomes to people’s care.

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 10 July 2017 and this is the first inspection. The service has not operated continuously since it first registered. It re-commenced providing personal care in September 2021.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the date of registration.

Follow up

We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.