Background to this inspection
Updated
1 February 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. 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
This inspection was carried out by one inspector. Following the inspection, an Expert by Experience contacted people using the service for their feedback. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes.
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
The first day of our inspection was unannounced. Inspection activity started on 31 October 2019 and ended on 7 November 2019. We visited the office location on 31 October and 4 November 2019.
What we did before the inspection
We looked at information we hold about the service such as notifications of events and registration information. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). 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. We used this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with the registered manager for the service, the nominated individual, two care co-ordinators, an HR representative and a care worker. We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and related documentation. We looked at records for five members of staff in relation to recruitment, training, supervision and appraisal. We reviewed policies and procedures and other records relating to the management of the service.
After the inspection
An Expert by Experience spoke with two people using the service, six relatives and two representatives supporting people with their care. We received further information from the provider which we used to corroborate our findings. We reviewed a report of a service visit carried out by a local authority quality assurance officer in May 2019.
Updated
1 February 2020
About the service
GPM Care Services is a domiciliary care agency providing care and support to people living in their own homes. This includes support with personal care tasks, mobility, nutrition and other activities. The service also provides 'live-in' support for people who require a 24-hour service.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive support with personal care tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection, 24 people were receiving support with personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People received a reliable service from staff who were kind and caring. People and their relatives told us they felt safe and trusted the staff providing care and support.
Care plans were person-centred and comprehensive. People’s care needs were reviewed on a regular basis and care plans updated to reflect any changes to the support people required.
Staff were trained and supported in their role and had a good understanding of the needs and preferences of the people they were supporting.
Risks to people’s health, safety and well-being were assessed and planned for and people's complex care needs were appropriately met.
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.
The provider’s policies and procedures promoted peoples' rights to dignity, independence and privacy.
Staff supported people to take their medicines safely where this formed part of an agreed package of care.
The provider met people's nutritional needs. Staff completed training in food hygiene and supported people to eat and drink according to their needs and preferences.
The service worked in partnership with other professionals to optimise people’s health and well-being.
The provider had appropriate safeguarding, whistleblowing and complaints procedures in place. People and their relatives told us they would feel comfortable raising a concern or making a complaint.
Safe recruitment processes were being followed to ensure staff were suitable for their roles.
The provider had quality assurance systems in place to identify shortfalls and where needed, improve the quality of the service delivered.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update:
The last rating for this service was good (report published 16 May 2017).
Why we inspected
This inspection was part of a scheduled plan based on our last rating of the service.
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.