Social Care Academy

Updated 8 March 2019

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. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act, to look at the overall quality of the

service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

Inspection team: The inspection was carried out by one adult social care inspector.

Service and service type: Social Care Academy is a small domiciliary care agency.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. The owner/provider is the registered manager and also undertakes care calls to people. This means that they, as manager and 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 visit in line with our methodology for inspecting this type of service. Inspection site visit activity started on 27 February 2019 and ended on 29 February 2019.

What we did: Before the inspection we reviewed information held about the service including any notifications we had received. A notification must be sent to the Care Quality Commission every time a significant incident has taken place in the service. We also reviewed the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a document the provider sends to us describing what they do well and any planned improvements.

On 28 February 2019, the inspector conducted telephone interviews with one person who was receiving care from the service and spoke with two people’s relatives. We visited the office location on 29 February 2019 to meet with the registered manager and care staff; and to review care records and policies and procedures.

Updated 8 March 2019

About the service: Social Care Academy is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes in Evesham and the surrounding areas. At the time of the inspection three people were receiving personal care and support. The agency also provides other services including companionship, cleaning and support with shopping.

People’s experience of using this service:

¿ People were very happy with the care and support they received from the service. They, and relatives, felt involved in how their care was planned and delivered, and described positive relationships with staff who undertook their care calls.

¿ People received their care calls at the agreed times and were informed if staff were delayed. People had consistency of staff and knew which staff member was expected.

¿ The provider’s vision, policies and procedures promoted people being in control of their care and support, which people told us they were.

¿ People had care plans which were regularly updated and reflected people’s needs and preferences. Risks had been assessed and management plans informed staff how to reduce risks of injury or harm.

¿ Staff were supported through an induction, training and meetings.

¿ The service met the characteristics of ‘Good’ in all the key questions. Therefore, our overall rating for the service is ‘Good’. More information is in the full report.

Rating at the last inspection: This was the first inspection of this service since its registration with us in September 2017.

Why we inspected: This was a scheduled inspection and was planned.

Follow up: We will continue to monitor the service and plan to inspect it in line with our re-inspection programme. If we receive any information of concern we may bring our inspection forward.