Background to this inspection
Updated
25 December 2020
The inspection
This was a targeted inspection to check on a specific concern we had about risk management and infection prevention control.
Inspection team
The inspection visit was carried out by one inspector and a second inspector made calls to staff following the inspection.
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
We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 02/12/2020 and ended on 04/12/2020. We visited the office location on 02/12/2020.
What we did before the inspection
Before the inspection we reviewed the information, we held about the service. We sought feedback from the provider about concerns that had been raised. 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 took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection-
We spoke with the registered manager, a care coordinator, four care workers and the nominated individual who is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s risk management records and a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at risk management records and infection prevention control policy and procedures.
Updated
25 December 2020
About the service
Smithfield Health & Social Care Limited t/a Verilife is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to 109 people at the time of our visit.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People told us they felt safe with staff and there were robust risk assessments and plans in place to manage any risks people faced. There was a system to monitor and respond to any incidents, such as falls. People received their medicines from trained staff and care was delivered in a way that reduced the risk of the spread of infection.
People gave positive feedback about the competence of staff and said staff supported them in personalised ways to meet their nutritional needs. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. Staff regularly worked with healthcare professionals and made referrals when people’s health changed.
People told us staff supported them in a way that was caring and considerate of their needs. Staff were knowledgeable about how to provide care in a way that was respectful and maintained people’s dignity. People were encouraged to maintain their independence.
People’s care was planned in a personalised and people told us they were involved in care planning. When things changed, reviews took place and care plans were updated. People knew how to complain and any complaints raised had been investigated and responded to appropriately.
Improvements had been made since our previous inspections and the provider had embedded systems to ensure improvements could be sustained. People’s views were sought and taken seriously and staff said they felt supported by management. There was a system to reward good practice amongst staff and the service regularly worked alongside others to deliver care.
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 29 December 2018).
The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.
At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
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.