Capital Staffing Services Ltd

Updated 7 November 2017

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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 is the first comprehensive inspection of the service since registration with the Care Quality Commission.

The inspection was carried out on 26 September 2017 by one inspector and an expert-by-experience. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

The provider was given 24 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service; we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

Before the inspection, we reviewed the information we held about the service including notifications they are required to submit to the CQC. This included the provider information return (PIR). The PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

During our inspection, we spoke with two members of care staff, a care coordinator, a booking officer, the registered manager and the chief executive officer. An expert-by-experience spoke with one person using the service and six family members who were involved in the care of people using the service.

We looked at seven care records, risk assessments and medicines administration records. We reviewed information about the management of the service including safeguarding reports, incident records, complaints and compliments and policies and procedures. We looked at staff files that included recruitment, training, supervisions and appraisals. We reviewed the feedback the service had received from people using the service, their families and health and social care professionals.

After the inspection, we received feedback from three health and social care professionals and clinical commissioning groups that were involved in the care of people using the service.

Updated 7 November 2017

This announced inspection took place on 26 September 2017. Capital Staffing Services Ltd provides personal care and treatment of disease, disorder or injury to people in their homes. At the time of our inspection, 17 people were using the service.

This is the first inspection of the service since registration with the Care Quality Commission in August 2016.

There was a registered manager in post. 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.

People received care and support from trained and skilled staff comprising of registered nurses and care assistants. The provider provided training to relatives of people using the service who were actively involved in care delivery and worked alongside their staff. Staff received support to undertake their roles. While the registered manager monitored and supervised staff’s practice, they did not always maintain up to date supervision records. There was a risk that the registered manager could miss an opportunity to identify and follow up on staff development needs.

People received care and support from staff who knew how to identify abuse and understood their responsibility to report any concerns. Staff managed identified risks to people’s health and well- being. The registered manager worked with other healthcare professionals to minimise the risks of foreseeable emergencies to people using the service in relation to the adequacy of staffing levels, medicines and medical equipment used in their homes.

People received care and support from sufficient numbers of staff. The provider ensured there was a mix of staff with the right competencies, experience and skills deployed to meet people’s needs. The provider followed appropriate recruitment procedures to employ staff suitable to provide people’s care. People who required support to take their prescribed medicines received appropriate assistance in line with best practice and current guidance. Staff minimised the risks of infection to people by following good standards of hygiene.

People using the service and their relatives were happy with the care and support they received. People had their care delivered in a caring and compassionate manner. Staff maintained people’s privacy and dignity when they delivered care and support. People received the support they required to lead independent lives, undertake activities of their choice and to maintain relationships that mattered to them.

People had appropriate support to eat and drink healthily in line with their nutritional and hydration needs. Staff supported people to access healthcare services to maintain their health and monitor their well-being in a timely manner.

People gave consent to care and treatment. People using the service and their families (where appropriate) were involved in planning and making decisions about their care. Staff understood the support people required and respected their decisions about how they wanted to receive care. People who were unable to make decisions about their care received appropriate support through best interests meetings.

The registered manager carried out a needs assessment before each person started to use the service. Care plans showed details of people’s needs and the support they required. People received care that responded to their changing needs and preferences.

People benefited from a person centred, transparent and honest culture that prevailed at the service. The registered manager and provider encouraged people and their families to talk about their experiences of using the service and to share ideas about how to improve care provision. People using the service and their relatives knew how to make a complaint if they were unhappy. The registered manager investigated and resolved complaints in line with the provider’s procedures.

People received care that underwent monitoring and quality assurance checks. The registered manager was aware of shortcomings at the service and had plans in place to drive improvement. People’s support met good standards of care because the registered manager worked in close partnership with external agencies.

We have made a recommendation in relation to the management of staff performance.