The inspection took place on 16 March 2016 by one Inspector and was announced 48 hours before it took place due to the nature and size of the service. This was to make sure that the registered manager, staff and people who used the service would be available to talk with us as part of our inspection. When we last inspected the service on 29 April 2014 the service was found to have met the essential standards we looked at.
Care Fully Limited is a family operated domiciliary care service that provides care and support to a small number of older people in their own homes. At the time of our inspection only one person received personal care from the service.
There was a manager in post who had 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.
At the time of our inspection only the registered manager, who also provides care and support, was available to talk with us. This was because the only other staff member employed by the service on a period of extended leave.
People told us that they felt safe and well cared for by the service. Staff received training in how to safeguard people from abuse and report any concerns they may have. Safe and effective recruitment practices were followed to ensure that staff were suitable. Sufficient numbers of staff were available to meet people’s agreed care and support needs in a timely and patient way.
Although the service did not manage or administer medicines, appropriately trained staff prompted people to take their medicines safely and at the right time. Potential risks to people’s health and well-being were identified, reviewed and managed effectively.
People who used the service, their relatives and healthcare professionals were very positive about the skills, experience and abilities of staff who provided care and support. Staff received training relevant to their roles and had regular meetings with the registered manager to discuss the people they supported, how the service operated and issues of importance to them.
People were supported to maintain good health and to eat a healthy balanced diet that met their individual needs and preferences. The registered manager and staff always established people’s wishes and obtained their consent before providing personal care and support.
The registered manager and staff had developed caring relationships with the people they supported and clearly knew them and their needs very well. People who used the service, together with their family members where appropriate, were involved in the planning and reviews of the care and support provided.
The confidentiality of information held about people’s medical and personal histories was securely held and maintained.
Support was provided in a way that promoted people’s dignity and respected their privacy. People received care that met their needs and took account of their preferences. The registered manager was very knowledgeable about people’s background histories, preferences, routines and personal circumstances.
People felt that the registered manager and staff listened to them and responded to any concerns they had in a positive way. They knew how to complain should the need arise but told us they had never had cause to do so.
People who used the service, their relatives and health care professionals were very positive and complimentary about the registered manager, staff and how the service was operated. Arrangements were in place to monitor risks and the quality of services provided.