The inspection visit at Home Instead was undertaken on 29, 30 June and 01 July 2016 and was announced. We gave 48 hours’ notice of the inspection to ensure people who accessed the service, staff and visitors were available to talk with us.Home Instead provides personal care assistance for people who live in their own homes. The service supports people who may live with mental health conditions, dementia or a learning disability. The office is based in a commercial park on the outskirts of Blackpool.
A registered manager was in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
At the last inspection on 27 May 2014, we found the provider was meeting the requirements of the regulations.
During this inspection, staff, people and their relatives told us they felt the leadership and management of Home Instead was good. The registered manager had systems to check quality assurance, such as a number of feedback and monitoring systems. Staff and people who accessed the service told us they felt valued and a part of the ongoing development of the service. The provider had worked with a number of external agencies and within the local community to establish areas of good practice.
We found the management team invested in their staff, through training and support, and celebrated their achievements. The provider and a staff member both won national awards for demonstrating a caring approach. People said Home Instead was well run and they could contact the office if they had any concerns. The registered manager had a range of audits and monitoring systems to maintain their safety and wellbeing.
The management team were innovative in their approach to training and supporting staff. For example, they developed and implemented a bespoke qualification with the local college. People said there was consistency of staff who met their care packages at agreed times. One person told us, “They are always on time.” The registered manager had effective recruitment systems to protect people from unsuitable staff.
People said they felt safe when staff supported them as part of their care packages. When we discussed safeguarding procedures with staff, they demonstrated a good understanding and were aware of who to report any concerns.
We found, where required, staff completed safe procedures in the management of people’s medicines. One person told us, “They oversee me taking my medication. It helps me to keep safe.” Staff files contained evidence staff undertook relevant training and all related processes were audited by the management team to check their effectiveness.
Care records we reviewed contained people’s signed consent to their overall and decision-specific support. Staff demonstrated a good awareness of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and associated Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. One staff member said, “I fully respect a person’s right to a good life and to make their own decisions. I support them to do so.”
Records were individualised to each person and staff understood the principles of person-centred care. We saw they supported individuals and their relatives to be fully involved in their care. A staff member explained, “I respect clients like my family. Their wishes and preferences must come first.” People said they had information to guide them about commenting on their care if they chose to.
Staff support matched care planning we reviewed in order to maintain people’s independence. One person said, “The carers are supervising me with my cooking so that I can do it myself.” Where applicable, staff assisted people with their nutritional needs and had training to protect them from unsafe food hygiene.