Together Care

Updated 10 October 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 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 was a comprehensive inspection carried out by one adult social care inspector.

The inspection took place on the 3 and 6 September 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because the location provides a domiciliary care service. We needed to be sure that they would be in.

During the inspection we looked at a selection of records and documents relating to the service. We looked at records that included assessments of risk and care planning documents, policies and procedures and other documents relating to the management of the service. We looked at the recruitment records of five staff members and rotas. In addition, we spoke with four people who used the services and a family member of people who used the service.

We spoke with and spent time with six staff members and the registered manager of the service.

Prior to the inspection we assessed all of the information we held about the service. This information included information sent to us by the registered provider. We contacted the local authority commissioning team and Healthwatch who told us they had no concerns about the service. We used all of this information to create our 'planning tool' which helps us to decide how the inspection should be conducted and any key information we need to discuss.

Before this inspection we received a completed Provider Information Return (PIR). This document gave the registered provider the opportunity to tell us about how the service delivers safe care and support to people and what plans they have in place to continue to make improvements to the service

Updated 10 October 2018

Together Care is a domiciliary care agency, providing personal care and support to people living in their own homes. The service operates from a office based in St Helens Chamber, close to the town centre. At the time of this inspection 18 people were using the service.

At our last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

Why the service is rated good.

People told us they felt safe using the service. Their comments included “I feel very safe when [Staff] visit” and “They [Staff] are very safety conscious”. Improvements had been made since the previous inspection in relation to recruitment procedures. Policies and procedures were in place for the safe administration of medicines and safeguarding people from harm.

Prior to using the service people’s needs were assessed by a senior member of staff. This assessment enabled the service to identify people’s needs and wishes and introduce the service to them.

People received support from staff that received training for their role. Positive comments were made by people which included “They are very good at what they do” and “Very safety conscious, all of them”. A family member described the staff team as “On the ball” with their relatives care and support. Where required, people’s specific dietary needs and wishes were recorded in their care plans to ensure that staff were able to meet people’s needs.

People told us they felt that staff were caring, respectful and maintained their dignity. People’s comments included “They [Staff] are wonderful, kind and helpful”, “Very respectful” and “Very caring”. Procedures were in place to ensure that people’s personal information was stored safely.

Individual care plans gave the opportunity to record people’s needs and plan how their care was to be delivered. People told us that their care plans were regularly reviewed and changed when required. A complaints procedure was in place which people and their family members had access to. People were asked for their views on the service and their care plans on a regular basis.

Policies and procedures were in place to promote safe, effective care and support to people. The registered manager and directors of Together Care were working towards and action plan to further improve and develop the service available to people.

Further information is in the detailed findings below