Archived: Fisher Healthcare Ltd

Updated 10 September 2016

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 28 July 2016. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care and live-in service and the management staff are sometimes out of the office supporting staff or visiting people who use the agency. We needed to be sure that they would be in. The inspection was carried out by one inspector. On the day of our inspection the registered manager was on leave. However, the designated office manager facilitated our inspection.

Before the inspection we looked at all of the information that we had about the agency. This included information from notifications received by us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send to us by law.

During the inspection we visited the agency’s office and looked at three people’s care records. We visited two people in their homes and spoke to one person by telephone. We also spoke with the office manager, two care coordinators and three members of care staff. We saw records in relation to the management of the agency which included three care plans, medicines and staff recruitment and training. We also spoke with a social worker, a relative of two people receiving care and a physiotherapist who had contact with care staff from the agency.

Updated 10 September 2016

Fisher Healthcare Ltd. provides the regulated activity of personal care to people who live in their own homes. There were three people receiving personal care from the agency when we visited. All three people were receiving personal care from live in carers who were supporting them 24 hours a day. The inspection took place on 28 July 2016 and we gave the provider 48-hours’ notice before we visited. This is because the registered manager is often out of the office supporting staff and we needed to be sure that they would be available.

Before the inspection we looked at all of the information that we held about the service. This included information from notifications received by us. A notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send to us by law.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

Staff received training to protect people from harm and they were knowledgeable about reporting any harm. There were a sufficient number of staff and recruitment procedures ensured that only suitable staff were employed. Risk assessments were in place and actions were taken to reduce identified risks.

Staff were trained in the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and could describe how people were supported to make decisions. We saw that no one receiving care from the service was subject to any restrictions on their liberty.

Staff were supported and received ongoing trained to do their job. The staff were in contact with a range of health care professionals to ensure that care and support was well coordinated. Health professionals we spoke with were complimentary and positive about the service. Risk assessments were in place to ensure that care and support could be safely provided.

People’s privacy and dignity were respected and their care and support was provided in a caring and a patient way.

A complaints procedure was in place and complaints had been responded to, to the satisfaction of the complainant. People felt able to raise concerns with the staff at any time.

The provider had quality assurance processes and procedures in place to monitor the quality and safety of people’s care. Staff confirmed that there was an open culture within the management of the agency and that they felt well supported by management staff. People and their relatives were able to make suggestions in relation to the support and care provided.