Blueberry Care

Updated 10 September 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 and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service

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 we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 15 August 2019 and ended on 16 August 2019. We visited the office location on 16 August 2019.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. 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 used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with five people who used the service and eight relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with nine members of staff including the provider, registered manager, care coordinators and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

Updated 10 September 2019

About the service

KARE Plus Cheshire is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of this inspection 68 people were receiving care and support from the service.

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

Overall people and relatives were complimentary and positive about the support they received. Improvements had been made to aspects of the service since the last inspection.

Since the last inspection, improvements had been made to records in relation to medicines. These were administered and managed safely.

Risks to people were assessed and regularly reviewed and this had improved since the last inspection. Staff understood the actions needed to minimise the risk of avoidable harm. Risk management plans would benefit from including further details about actions being taken. Staff had undertaken safeguarding training and understood their role in identifying and reporting any concerns of potential abuse. Where necessary appropriate action had been taken.

People received care that was responsive to their individual needs. Staff were familiar with people and knew their likes and preferences well. People told us staff were kind and caring in their approach.

There were sufficient numbers of trained, experienced staff to meet people's needs. The service was recruiting staff on an ongoing basis. The provider had invested in an electronic scheduling system to manage and monitor care calls more effectively. Safer recruitment practices were followed, and appropriate checks completed to ensure that only suitable staff were employed.

Staff received an induction and on-going training and support that enabled them to carry out their roles positively and effectively. People had access to healthcare services and were involved in decisions about their care. Staff worked closely with other agencies and health professionals to support people effectively.

Care plans were being updated and included person centred information. In some cases, we found further information was needed to reflect changes to people’s needs. This was being addressed.

Since the last inspection staff had received training and clearly understood The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). New documentation had been introduced to support staff to comply with the MCA. 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.

Governance systems and oversight of the service had improved and were effective. Issues were identified, and actions taken to address any shortfalls where necessary.

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

Rating at last inspection (and update).

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 15 August 2018) and there was a breach of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

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.