Your Life (Hitchin)

Updated 11 September 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 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 Health and Social Care Act 2014 and to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Before the inspection we reviewed information we held about the service including statutory notifications. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us. We also reviewed the provider information return (PIR) submitted to us. This is information that the provider is required to send to us, which gives us some key information about the service and tells us what the service does well and any improvements they plan to make.

The inspection was announced and carried out by one inspector.

During the inspection we spoke with three people who used the service, one relative, three staff members and the registered manager. Following the inspection, we received feedback from two relatives. We viewed information relating to two people’s care and support. We also reviewed records relating to the management of the service

Updated 11 September 2018

This inspection was carried out on 21 August 2018 and was announced. At their last inspection on 8 February 2016, they were found to be meeting the standards we inspected. At this inspection we found that they had continued to meet all the standards.

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own flats. It provides a service to older adults. Your Life (Hitchin) operates an assisted living scheme in a modern and purpose built private development called Park House. The property consists of 58 flats privately owned and occupied by older people who also share some communal areas and facilities; such as dining rooms, lounges and gardens.

Not everyone using Your Life (Hitchin) receives regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection seven people who lived at Park House received personal care and support.

The service had a manager who was registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People felt safe at the service and staff knew how to recognise and respond to abuse. Risks were assessed and mitigated. Staff followed infection control procedures and medicines were managed safely. There were sufficient trained staff to meet people’s needs who were recruited safely and received regular support.

People were encouraged and supported as needed to eat and drink. People also had support to access health care services if needed. Staff adhered to the principles of the Mental Capacity Act and people lived independent lives.

Staff were kind, caring and treated people with respect. Relationships were promoted and confidentiality adhered to. People were involved in and decided their care or support needs. Care plans included information to enable staff to meet people’s needs in a way that they liked.

People were encouraged to engage in activities that were in the community and were aware of how to raise a complaint should they need to. People, relatives and staff were positive about the management team and how the service was run. There were quality assurance systems in place to help maintain the standards.