This inspection took place on 25 January 2017 and was announced. La Petite Concierge Limited is registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. It provides a domiciliary care service and supported living service. There were 29 people using the service on the day of our inspection. No one was receiving a supported living service.
A registered manager was in post and was present during our inspection. 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.
The provider had not submitted one statutory notification to us in accordance with their regulatory responsibilities. A statutory notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.
Staff recruitment records were not all accurate or complete. The provider gave assurance that these staff were suitable to support people in their own homes.
People were supported by staff who had been trained to understood how to recognise abuse and discrimination. Systems were in place for staff to follow which protected people and kept them safe from avoidable danger and harm. Staff knew how to and were confident in reporting any concerns they had about a person’s safety.
People were happy they were supported by sufficient numbers of staff to safely meet their needs. People felt safe with the staff that supported them because they saw them often and knew them. People were supported to take their medicines safely and when they needed them.
Staff had the skills and knowledge to understand and support people's individual needs. Training they received was kept up to date. Staff received support from managers and colleagues to enable them to perform their roles effectively.
Staff asked people’s permission before they helped them with any care or support and understood the importance of obtaining consent. People’s right to make their own decisions about their own care and treatment was supported by staff.
People that needed it received support to make sure they ate and drank enough. Staff helped people to access healthcare services when this was required.
People were supported by staff who knew them well and had good relationships with them. People were involved in their own care and felt listened to when they made their wishes known. Staff protected and respected people's dignity and privacy when they supported them.
People received care and support that was individual to their needs and preferences. People and their relatives knew how to complain about the service and felt comfortable about doing so.
People and relatives liked the fact that La Petite Concierge was a small and local service. They felt involved in the service and found staff and managers approachable. The provider had systems in place to monitor the quality of the service people received and worked to achieve continual improvement.