Background to this inspection
Updated
28 October 2020
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection. It also supported the service and us to manage any potential risks associated with Covid-19.
Inspection activity started on 6 October 2020 and ended on 14 October 2020. We visited the office location on 8 October 2020.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We contacted seven people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We contacted 15 members of staff by email or text. We visited the office and spoke with the registered manager and office and safety manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medicine records. We looked at a staff file in relation to recruitment and at staff supervision records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed, including policies and procedures.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
28 October 2020
About the service
Beacon Homecare Services Limited is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care for people living in their own homes in the Penrith area of Cumbria. The service supports older people, people living with a dementia, physical disability or mental health need. They also support people who misuse drugs and alcohol.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
At the last inspection the provider had not made sure the governance systems were sufficiently effective to monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service. Since then there had been improvements in the way the management team carried out audits to check the quality of the service.
People and relatives said the service was safe and they trusted the staff. They described staff as “pleasant, courteous and friendly”. People said the service was reliable. Staff arrived on time and stayed the full amount of time.
Risk assessments and care records were more personalised so staff had detailed information about how to support each person in the safest way.
People said staff made sure they wore masks, aprons and gloves to prevent the spread of coronavirus. Staff had updated training in infection control and felt supported by the provider during the pandemic.
People said staff understood how they wanted to be supported, listened to them and did what they asked. They commented the care service was personalised and met their individual preferences and needs. People described the service as “flexible” and “accommodating” whenever they asked for any changes.
People had information in ways they could understand. They felt confident about raising any issues. The service had not received any complaints or concerns since the last inspection.
People and relatives said the service was well-managed. They found it easy to contact the office and there was always someone available to take their call. People said they were asked for their feedback and office staff visited to check their care from time to time.
People and staff said the management team were open, approachable and supportive. The registered manager was committed to continuous improvement of the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 23 October 2019) and there was a breach of regulation relating to good governance. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulation.
Why we inspected
We carried out an announced comprehensive inspection of this service on 11 September 2019. A breach of legal requirements was found. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.
We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the key questions Safe, Responsive and Well-led.
The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Beacon Homecare Services Limited on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.