Practical Care Solutions Limited

Updated 30 August 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. 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 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 the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. 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 sought feedback from the local authority who work with the service and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the provider who also is the registered manager, care manager and three care workers. We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and associated monitoring records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment, training and support. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including complaints, quality checks, and policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training information and records relating to how the provider monitored incidents and accidents.

Updated 30 August 2019

About the service

Practical Care Solutions Limited is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to a range of people living in their own homes. At the time of the inspection 20 people were receiving personal care.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People continued to be cared for safely. Risks assessments were in place, monitored and reviewed on an ongoing basis. Staff understood safeguarding procedures.

People were supported to maintain good health. People were supported with their medicines and accessed health care services when needed. People were provided with meals and drinks that met their dietary requirements.

Staff recruitment procedures were followed to protect people from unsuitable staff. There were enough staff and people received support from reliable caring staff. Staff received comprehensive training to meet people’s needs. Staff enjoyed working at the service and felt supported by their colleagues, the care manager and the registered manager.

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.

People’s care records contained clear information covering all aspects of people’s care and support. Staff had a good understanding of people’s wishes and individual preferences. They covered people’s communication, cultural needs and ways to help maintain people’s independence and links with family, friends and the wider community.

Staff were caring in their approach and had good relationships with people and their relations. People with treated with respect, and staff maintained their dignity and privacy.

The registered manager monitored the quality of the service provided. They were aware of their legal responsibilities and worked in an open and transparent way. People and their relatives knew how to make a complaint. People, their relatives, staff and commissioners felt the registered manager was approachable, acted on concerns and sought their views to develop the service. Lessons were learnt when things went wrong.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 25 November 2016).

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.