Archived: Synergy Homecare - Preston

Updated 18 November 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social are 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 service was registered by CQC on 16 February 2016. This was the service's first inspection since Sevacare (UK) Limited took over the service, and had registered with the Care Quality Commission at this location. At the time of this inspection the service was providing support to people living in Preston. This inspection took place on 19 and 20 September 2017 and the provider was given 48 hours notice of the inspection in accordance with our current methodology for the inspection of domiciliary care agencies.

The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using domiciliary care, and caring for older people in their own homes.

Before our inspection a Provider Information Return (PIR) was requested from the provider, and reviewed the information they supplied to us. A PIR provides key information about the service, what it does well and improvements that are planned to be made. We reviewed all of the information that we held about the service including statutory notifications that the provider had sent us. In addition, we sought feedback from the local safeguarding adults team, the contracts and commissioning team and health care professionals about the service. We used all of the information we had gathered to inform the planning of our inspection.

A range of different methods were used to gather information and feedback about the service. We reviewed the provider’s annual survey for people using the service. We talked with seven people, three relatives, the new manager and fourteen care workers. We examined five people’s care plans, staff recruitment, training and supervision records, and reviewed other records related to the management and quality of the service.

Updated 18 November 2017

This service was registered by CQC on 16 February 2016. This was the service's first inspection since Sevacare (UK) Limited took over the service and had registered with the Care Quality Commission at this location. At the time of this inspection the service was providing support to people living in Preston. Synergy provides support with personal care, domestic tasks and shopping to people living in their own homes. This inspection took place on 19 and 20 September 2017 and the provider was given 48 hours notice of the inspection in accordance with our current methodology for the inspection of domiciliary care agencies.

At the time of our inspection, the service did not have a registered manager in place. The previously registered manager had recently de-registered with the CQC, and the new manager was in the processing of applying for registration with the CQC. A registered manager (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 feedback we received from people using the service and their relatives was very positive. People told us they were very satisfied with the standards of care and support they received. They described how they enjoyed good working relationships with care staff and they were treated with dignity and respect.

People were supported in their own homes by well-trained staff that were able to meet people’s needs safely. Staff were appropriately and robustly recruited to check their suitability. There was sufficient staffing capacity to ensure people received safe, consistent care.

Good support was given to people to maintain their health and, where needed, to meet their dietary requirements. There were good working relationships developed with health and social care professional to meet these needs. Suitable arrangements were made to safely assist people in taking their prescribed medicines. However, we noted that medicine records were not always completed correctly, and have made a recommendation about improvements needed to medicine records.

People received person centred care in line with their individual needs and preferences. Care planning was focused on the wellbeing of the individual, how they preferred to be supported and the outcomes they wished to achieve. There was a clear commitment to support people in a way that promoted their independence.

We found the service had established effective systems to protect people from abuse and respond to any safeguarding concerns. Risks to personal safety had been assessed and measures were in place to prevent people from being harmed.

The registered provider had a procedure for receiving and managing complaints. The new manager and provider demonstrated a good understanding of the importance of effective quality assurance systems in promoting the quality of the service. The new manager promoted an open, inclusive culture and provided leadership to the staff team. Staff were proud to work for the organisation.