Valued Living Home Care Services

Updated 20 July 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care 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.

The inspection site visit took place on 28 June 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because we needed to be sure the provider would be in. We made telephone calls on 26 and 27 June 2018 to people who used the service, and their relatives. On 28 June 2018 we visited the office location to meet with the provider, speak with care staff and to review records. The inspection team consisted of two inspectors.

We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually 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 three people who used the service and two relatives over the telephone. We also spoke with the provider and two care workers.

We looked at all or some of the care records of five people who used the service, staff training records and the recruitment records of two members of staff. We also looked at policies and procedures, records of accidents and incidents and returned satisfaction surveys.

Updated 20 July 2018

This announced inspection took place on 28 June 2018. This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to older adults living in their own houses. At the time of our inspection, eight people were provided with personal care by Valued Living Home Care Services.

People felt safe with staff and the service had a robust system in place to safeguard people from abuse. Risks to people’s health and safety had been identified, assessed and kept under regular review. Staff followed clear guidance in care plans to keep people safe. There were sufficient numbers of staff to ensure people received a reliable and consistent service which met their needs. Systems were in place to ensure that people received their medicines as required from trained and competent staff. People were protected by the prevention and control of the spread of infection and action was taken in response to any accidents or incidents which occurred when the service was being delivered.

People were supported by staff who had appropriate skills and knowledge to deliver effective care and support. Staff supported people in line with their requirements to ensure they ate and drank a sufficient amount to maintain their health. Care plans contained clear information for staff about people’s health needs and the support they required to keep well. Records showed that people’s health was monitored and any changes or concerns were responded to. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People described a friendly and collaborative approach to delivering care. People were able to exercise choice and control over how their care was delivered. Staff told us they had a sufficient amount of time during care calls to ensure people’s needs were met and were knowledgeable about people’s preferences. People were treated respectfully and staff ensured their dignity whilst providing care. The provider was aware of support available for people to help them express their views and wishes and told us this would be considered if a person needed this support.

People’s needs were assessed before they started using the service. People and their relatives were involved in care planning and regular reviews of their support needs. Care and support was provided at the time and in the way it was needed. People were supported to maintain their independence as much as possible. Information was provided to people about how to make a complaint and people told us they were confident that any concerns or issues would be responded to appropriately.

The provider had a clear aim to deliver person centred care. People and their relatives were very complimentary of the service and described the positive impact on their well-being. Staff were provided with leadership, supervision and support. Systems were in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service. The provider regularly sought people’s feedback in relation to the support they received and took action if improvements were identified.