The Care Quality Commission
  • Services in your home
  • Homecare service

Archived: Independent Homecare Team Limited

1a Woodside Road, Sidcup, Kent, DA15 7JF (020) 8300 7953

Provided and run by:
Independent Homecare Team Limited

Important: This service was previously registered at a different address - see old profile
Important: This service is now registered at a different address - see new profile

All Inspections

27 January 2014

During a routine inspection

People that we spoke with told us they were satisfied with the services they had received and that staff involved them in decisions about their care. One person told us, "I have had the same carers for a long time and they are like very good friends." Another person told us "I look forward to my carers coming every day." A relative also told us care workers were 'on time, lovely' and provided good care 'exactly what I want for my mum'. People told us they knew how to make a complaint but they had not needed to do so.

The provider had arrangements in place for obtaining and acting in accordance with people's consent; this included care plans being agreed by people who used the service and / or their representatives. We found people's needs were assessed before they began using the service and the planning and delivery of care ensured their needs were met. The provider had effective recruitment procedures in place to ensure that qualified and competent staff were employed. We found suitable arrangements were in place to assess and monitor the quality of service people received. We found the provider had a complaints policy in place which was shared with people and staff, and their comments were listened to and acted on.

6 June 2013

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We inspected Independent Homecare agency in response to an inspection visit in January 2013 where we had identified three outcomes of non-compliance. These included a lack of suitable arrangements for dealing with foreseeable emergencies, the absence of safeguards to protect people using the service and care workers from financial abuse, poor record keeping and maintenance. On this occasion we did not speak with people using the service because information required to inform this inspection included reviewing records held in the provider's office and speaking with staff. We discussed with the registered manager and two senior staff members the actions taken to address the areas of non-compliance as indicated in their action plan and we found these issues had been addressed. We also reviewed three people's care records and found their care plans to be accurate and fit for purpose. We saw that people's records were organised in an accessible manner and securely stored to maintain confidentiality.

17, 18 January 2013

During a routine inspection

People who use the service and their relatives we spoke with were very complimentary about the service they received. They praised the quality, responsiveness and flexibility of the service; and trusted and valued their carers, who they said were highly skilled. One relative said; 'It's like having a bit of extended family. It's so nice to have someone to fall back on'. A person using the service said; '[My carer] is a bundle of joy. Most days she's the only person I see. I'd really miss her'. Everyone we spoke with was in close contact with the Registered Manager and felt very involved in decisions about their care. People told us there was a care plan and that carers made a record of every visit in the file.

We found people were treated with respect and were involved in decisions about their care. The provider planned care that met people's needs and supported staff in their professional development. However, safeguards were not in place to protect people using the service and staff in the event that money went missing; copies of care plan documentation kept at the office were not fit for purpose; and the provider had no procedures in place for dealing with foreseeable emergencies that might otherwise disrupt the provision of care and support to people using the service.