My Homecare West Kent

Updated 22 May 2019

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:

The inspection team consisted of one inspector.

Service and service type:

My Homecare Tonbridge is a domiciliary care service. 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 5 days’ notice of the inspection site visit because we required the registered manager to gain consent from people to contact them for feedback.

We visited the office location on 07 May 2019 to see the registered manager and office staff; and to review care records and policies and procedures.

What we did:

Before visiting the service, we looked information sent to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) through notifications. Notifications are information we receive when a significant event happens, like a death or a serious injury. We also looked at information sent to us by the registered manager through the Provider Information Return (PIR). The PIR contains 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 reviewed three people's care records, which included care plans, risk assessments, daily care records and medicines records. We looked at documentation that related to staff management and recruitment including four staff files. We also looked at a sample of audits, surveys, minutes of meetings and policies and procedures.

We gathered people’s experiences of the service. We spoke with seven people. We looked at feedback given by people through the providers quality audit processes. We also spoke with the registered manager and two members of staff.

Updated 22 May 2019

About the service:

My Homecare Tonbridge 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 adults. At the time of the inspection, 12 people were being supported by the service.

Not everyone using a domiciliary care agency receives regulated activity; 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.

People's experience of using this service:

People received care and support from regular staff who were kind and caring.

People's needs had been fully assessed before they received support from the service.

Care plans held sufficient detail for staff to offer support that reflected people's individual needs and preferences. Care plans were reviewed regularly and updated as required. Staff understood the needs of the people they supported and had developed positive relationships.

Safe recruitment practices were in place and people were supported by staff that had undertaken a thorough induction process and training relevant to their roles. Enough staff were employed to meet the needs of the people using the service. Staff were supported through regular supervision and team meetings.

Risks to people had been identified and staff had clear guidance available to them to support people and reduce the risk. People were protected from the risk of harm and abuse. Staff had received training and felt

confident to raise any concerns they had.

Medicines were managed safely by trained and competent staff. Medication policies and best practice guidance was available to all staff. Medication administration records (MARs) were fully completed and audited regularly.

Staff had undertaken infection control training and understood actions required to minimise the risk of infection being spread. They had access to personal protective equipment (PPE).

People's independence was promoted and their right to privacy and dignity respected.

People and their relatives spoke positively about the staff and management team. People told us their views were regularly sought regarding all areas of the service. People felt confident to raise any concerns they had.

The registered provider complied with the principles of the Mental Capacity Act (MCA) 2005. Staff understood and respected people's right to make their own decisions where possible and encouraged people to make decisions about the care they received.

Lessons were learnt when things went wrong and systems were improved if needed. The management team were responsive and approachable to people that used the service and to the staff. The registered manager had a clear understanding of their responsibilities of their registration with us.

Rating at last inspection:

This was the first comprehensive ratings inspection since the agency registered with the Care Quality Commission in March 2018.

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection based on the date of registration. Newly registered services receive an inspection within 12 months of the registration.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive. We will carry out another scheduled inspection to make sure the service continues to maintain Good.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk