Northampton

Updated 24 January 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

This inspection was completed by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own home.

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 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.

What we did before the inspection

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 the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with two members of staff including the registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care 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 seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We spoke with two professionals who regularly visit the service.

Updated 24 January 2020

About the service

‘Northampton’, also known as Deep Heart Care is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to people living in their own homes. 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. At the time of the inspection two people were receiving personal care.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People’s needs had been assessed prior to receiving care, however some care files lacked the information required or contained incorrect information. Risk assessments had been completed, but some lacked the information required, however staff knew people well and understood their needs.

People were supported by staff who treated them with kindness and respect. Staff knew how to identify and raise any safeguarding concerns. People told us staff were caring, kind and compassionate and that they felt safe with staff.

The provider had not always followed safe staff recruitment procedures in relation to references. Staff had Disclosure and Barring Service checks completed before they started working for the company. Staff received training and support to ensure they could do their roles.

Staff supported people to access healthcare when required.

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.

Systems and processes were in place to investigate any concerns or complaints raised, however there had been no complaints made at the time of inspection.

Basic audits were completed; however, they had failed to identify some of issues raised on inspection.

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 ‘inspected but not rated’ due to the provider supporting only one person for less than six months. (published 25 July 2019)

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.