Stick Care Ltd

Updated 22 February 2022

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. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by an inspector and an Expert by Experience. 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 houses and flats.

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

We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since it was registered. We sought feedback from the local authority who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with three members of staff including the office administrator [who also worked some shifts as a care assistant], registered manager and nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We reviewed a range of records. This included multiple medicine records. We looked at four staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of records relating to the management of the service were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and a variety of policies and procedures. We looked at care records relating to four people. We were unable to speak with people who used the service due to their complex needs. However, we spoke with nine relatives and two staff, both of whom were care assistants.

Updated 22 February 2022

About the service

Stick Care Ltd is a domiciliary care agency providing support to older people living in their own homes, some of who were receiving end of life care. At the time of our inspection there were 11 people using the service. All people using the service received support with personal care.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The registered manager did not have a thorough knowledge of incidents and events that they had a legal responsibility to notify the Care Quality Commission about, and we have made a recommendation about this.

Systems were in place to help safeguard people from abuse. Risk assessments were in place which set out the risks people faced and included information about how to mitigate those risks. There were enough staff to meet people's needs and robust staff recruitment practices were in place. Medicines were managed in a safe way. Steps had been taken to help prevent the spread of infections. Accidents and incidents were investigated so lessons could be learnt.

Initial assessments were carried out of people's needs before they started using the service to see if the provider could meet them. Staff received training and supervision to support them in their role. The provider worked with other agencies to meet people's health care needs. People were supported to eat a healthy diet and were able to make choices about what they ate and drank.

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.

Relatives told us that staff were kind and caring and treated people well. People were supported to have control and choice over their daily lives. People's privacy was respected, and staff understood the importance of maintaining confidentiality.

Care plans were in place which set out how to meet the individual needs of people. People and relatives were involved in developing these plans, which meant they were able to reflect people's needs and preferences. The service used different ways to help communicate with people, depending on their individual needs. Relatives told us they had confidence that any complaints raised would be addressed. People’s end of life care was being met.

Quality assurance and monitoring systems were in place to help drive improvements at the service. There was an open and positive culture at the service which meant people, relatives and staff could express their views. The provider worked with other agencies to develop best practice and share knowledge.

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

This service was registered with us on 26 January 2018 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.