Numada Homecare Ltd is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. It provides a service to older adults, people living with dementia, mental health impairments, physical disabilities, sensory impairment and younger adults. The domiciliary care agency office is situated within the centre of Gosport. This inspection was undertaken on 5 and 8 February 2018. At the time of the inspection 66 people were receiving a domiciliary care service from Numada Homecare Ltd.
A registered manager was in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
We received positive feedback from people about the service. People who used the service expressed satisfaction and spoke highly of the staff and management team. All the people and family members who were asked if they would recommend the service to others said they would.
People and their families told us they felt safe. Staff understood their safeguarding responsibilities and knew how to prevent, identify and report abuse. Risks relating to the health and support needs of the people and the environment in which they lived were assessed and managed effectively. There were safe medication administration systems in place and people received their medicines when required.
Safe recruitment practices were followed and appropriate checks were undertaken, which helped make sure only suitable staff were employed to care for people in their own homes. There were sufficient numbers of care staff to maintain the schedule of visits.
There was an infection control policy in place and protective equipment such as gloves and aprons were provided to staff to minimise the spread of infection. People confirmed that safe management of infection control risks were adhered to.
Staff completed an induction programme and were appropriately supported in their work by the registered manager and the provider. Staff had received relevant training and arrangements were in place to refresh this regularly.
People who used the service felt they were treated with kindness and said their privacy and dignity was respected. Staff knew the people they provided care to well and understood their physical and social needs. Staff were able to describe how to meet people’s needs effectively. Staff supported people to access healthcare professionals when needed.
Staff, and the registered manager, knew how legislation designed to protect people's rights affected their work. They always asked for consent from people before providing care.
People and, when appropriate, their families were involved in discussions about their care planning and given the opportunity to provide feedback on the service. They were also supported to raise complaints should they wish to.
At the time of the inspection no one using the service was receiving end of life care. However the registered manager assured us that people would be supported to receive a comfortable, dignified and pain-free death.
People and their families told us they felt the service was well-led and were positive about the registered manager who understood the responsibilities of their role. Staff were aware of the provider’s vision and values and how they related to their work.