I & S Care

Updated 12 April 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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.

Inspection site visit activity started on 16 January 2018 and ended on 23 January 2018 and was carried out by one inspector. It included checking the service progress since the last inspection. We visited the office location on 16 and 23 January 2018 to see the manager and office staff; and to review care records and policies and procedures. As part of the inspection, we carried out home visits to people’s homes to speak to them and ensure that information keep in people’s homes was reflective of the records stored in the office. We also spoke to Skill for Care who we had been made aware of supporting the service to make the necessary improvements since the last inspection.

We looked at notifications received by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law. We also looked at safeguarding concerns reported to CQC. This is where one or more person’s health, wellbeing or human rights may not have been properly protected and they may have suffered harm, abuse or neglect. Incidents had been raised to CQC, Local Authority or the police since our last inspection.

The provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We spoke with two people who used the service, three of their relatives, five staff and the registered manager. We looked at records in relation to six people’s care, staff recruitment, supervision records and the systems in place for monitoring the quality of the service.

Updated 12 April 2018

This inspection took place on 16 and 23 January 2018 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours' notice because the location provided a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be in.

I and S Care is a small domiciliary care agency, providing personal care and support to people in their own homes around the Essex area. At the time of our inspection the service was supporting 14 people.

At our last inspection in September 2016 we found the service to be in breach of Regulations 12, 17 & 19 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated activities) Regulations 2014. This was because the service failed to have systems in place to ensure the safe management of medicines and safe recruitment of staff. The registered manager did not have systems to monitor gaps in staff training. All breaches in regulation had been met at this inspection.

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

The service was not consistently safe. Medication practice required improvement to ensure that people received their medicines as prescribed. The service had a quality assurance system in place and except for one minor error in regards to medication management which was addressed at the time of inspection, was being effectively operated. The service had sufficient numbers of staff met people’s needs.

The service was effective. People were cared for and supported by staff who had received training to meet their needs. The registered manager had a good understanding of their responsibilities in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards. Staff supported people to eat and drink enough to ensure they maintained a balanced diet. Referrals to health and social care services were made when required.

The service was caring. Staff cared for people in an empathetic and kind manner. Staff had a good understanding of people’s preferences. Staff always worked hard to promote people’s independence through encouraging and supporting people to make informed decisions.

The service was responsive. People and their relatives were involved in the planning and review of their care. The service reviewed care plans on a regular basis and when there was a change in care needs. Staff supported people to follow their interests and participate in social activities. The service responded to complaints received in a timely manner.