Archived: Homecare Southlodge

Updated 14 September 2016

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 is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 23 August 2016 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be in. This inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

Prior to the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service, including statutory notifications received. These were notifications about key events that occurred at the service. We also sent questionnaires to people using the service and staff for their feedback. We received completed questionnaires from one person and five staff.

During the inspection we visited the service’s office and spoke with the registered manager. We reviewed the care records for the three people using the service and three staff records. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service including findings from spot checks, and satisfaction surveys.

After the inspection we spoke with one person’s relative and three care workers.

Updated 14 September 2016

We undertook an announced inspection on 23 August 2016. This was the first time the service had been inspected. The provider registered this location with the Care Quality Commission on 14 July 2015.

Homecare Southlodge provides support and personal care to people in their own homes. At the time of our inspection three people were receiving a service.

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.

People received the support they required. The registered manager assessed people’s support needs and identified any risks to their safety and welfare. They developed care plans with input from people, and their relatives, about the support they required and how they wanted it to be delivered. Plans were in place to manage and mitigate the risks to people’s safety.

Staff were knowledgeable about the people they supported, their wishes and preferences. Staff asked for people’s permission before providing care and adhered to the Mental Capacity Act 2005.

Staff supported people as and when required with their medicines and meal preparation. Staff were aware of the health professionals involved in people’s care and liaised with them if they had any concerns about a person’s health.

Staff treated people respectfully, and maintained people’s privacy and dignity.

There were sufficient staff to provide people with the support they required. There was consistency in the staff supporting people, and people were familiar with their care workers. Staff attended visits on time and stayed the required amount of time to undertake their duties.

Staff received regular training and supervision to ensure they had the knowledge and skills to undertake their roles. The registered manager monitored the quality of support provided and addressed any areas requiring improvement with the individual staff member. The registered manager welcomed feedback about service provision and there were processes in place to obtain people’s views about the support received.

At the time of our inspection the registered manager was not aware of all of the requirements of their registration with the Care Quality Commission, and one statutory notification about a key event that occurred had not been received. This was addressed on the day of the inspection.