Background to this inspection
Updated
28 March 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 team was one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission [who was also the provider]. This means that they 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 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.
Inspection activity started on 24 February 2020 and ended on 26 February 2020. We visited the office location on 24 February 2020.
What we did before the 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 took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 spoke with the registered manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to gather information from other sources. We spoke with three people’s family members who spoke to us on their behalf about their experience of the care provided. We did this because some people who used the service had difficulties speaking with us by using the telephone. We spoke with three members of staff.
Updated
28 March 2020
About the service
Border Care Ltd is a care agency that provides a care service for people in their own homes. The care agency can provide care to people who may have dementia, mental health, physical disability, sensory impairment. There were five people receiving personal care at the time we inspected.
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 received safe care and support by staff that were trained, experienced and understood how to keep people safe from harm. Relatives told us their family members felt safe with staff in their homes, saying they were all trustworthy. The provider followed safe recruitment processes when employing new staff.
People received their medicines safely, they were supported to take their medicines as prescribed. Staff were regularly assessed and had their competency checked. The risk of infection was reduced as staff used equipment provided and worked in line with guidance. The registered manager reviewed any accidents and incidents ensuring any lessons learnt were acted on.
People’s care continued to be reviewed with them and where appropriate their relatives ensuring care and support needs continued to be met. Relatives said their family members healthcare needs were being met. People, where required, were supported to have nutritional needs met and were encouraged to remain as independent as possible.
People’s relatives spoke highly of the staff team, and staff spoke passionately about their roles and the people they provided care and support to. People’s social and physical needs were incorporated into the plan of care and used to promote and maintain people’s abilities and independence. Staff worked with health community professionals to ensure people’s end of life care needs were met.
The registered manager completed regular checks to make sure people receive high quality care.
People and relatives were asked for feedback on the service they received. People knew how to complain and were confident they would be listened to if any concerns were made.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good. The last report was published 13 October 2017.
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.