LifeSprings Care Services Ltd

Updated 14 March 2019

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 comprehensive inspection took place on 25 January and on the 6 February 2019, we received feedback from staff who worked at the service. The inspection was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice, because we needed to ensure someone was available to facilitate the inspection.

One inspector undertook the inspection.

We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return to help us in our judgements of the service. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also reviewed other information we held about the service. This included statutory notifications regarding important events which the provider must tell us about. We contacted commissioners who arrange placements for people and monitor the service; no information of concern was received about the provider.

During the inspection, we visited two people that received personal care from the service in their own homes. We spoke with one relative, two care staff, the registered manager and the provider. We viewed the care records of three people using the service and three staff recruitment files. We also viewed records relating to the management and quality monitoring of the service, such as quality assurance audits and feedback from people, their relatives and health and social care professionals.

Updated 14 March 2019

LifeSprings Care Services Ltd is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. It provides a service to older adults or adults and children with disabilities.

Not everyone using LifeSprings Care Services received the regulated activity; the Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also take into account any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection, six people were receiving personal care.

This inspection took place on 25 January 2019 and 6 February 2019. This was the first comprehensive inspection for the service since it registered with the CQC in March 2018.

There was a registered manager in post. 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 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 safeguarding training, they knew how to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse and how to report any concerns of abuse. Risk management plans were in place to protect and promote people’s safety. The staffing arrangements were suitable to keep people safe. Recruitment practices ensured staff were suitable to work with people. Infection control procedures to reduce the risks of spreading infection or illness.

The provider understood their responsibility to comply with the Accessible Information Standard (AIS), which came into force in August 2016. The AIS is a framework that makes it a legal requirement for all providers to ensure people with a disability or sensory loss can access and understand information they are given.

Staff received induction training when they first started to work at the service. On-going refresher training ensured staff were able to provide care and support for people following current best practice guidance. Staff supervision systems ensured that regular one to one supervision and appraisal of their performance.

Staff supported people to eat and drink sufficient amounts to maintain a varied and balanced diet. Records about people’s health requirements were documented. Staff were able to support people to access health appointments if required.

People were encouraged to be involved in decisions about their care and support. Staff demonstrated their understanding of the Mental Capacity Act, 2005 (MCA) and they gained people's consent before providing personal care. People had their privacy, dignity and confidentiality maintained at all times. The provider had a complaints procedure in place to manage and respond to complaints.

People had their diverse needs assessed, they had positive relationships with staff and received care in line with best practice meeting people’s personal preferences. Staff consistently provided people with respectful and compassionate care.

The service had a positive ethos and an open culture. The registered manager and the provider were visible role models in the service. People told us that they had confidence in the provider’s ability to provide a consistent service.