Santa Monica Healthcare Group

Updated 23 November 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 comprehensive inspection visit took place on 07 November 2018 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provided a domiciliary care service to people who lived in the community. We needed to be sure that we could access the office premises.

Santa Monica Healthcare Group provides domiciliary services to people who require support in their home within the Newton-Le-Willows, Cheshire areas. The service covers a wide range of dependency needs including, older people, physical disability, sensory impairment and younger adults. The service operates seven days a week and has out of hours contacts.

The inspection team consisted of an adult social care inspector.

Before our inspection we completed our planning tool and reviewed the information we held on the service. This included notifications we had received from the provider, about incidents that affect the health, safety and welfare of people supported by the service and previous inspection reports. We also checked to see if any information concerning the care and welfare of people supported by the service had been received. We contacted the commissioning departments who used the service. This helped us to gain a balanced overview of what people experienced accessing the service.

As part of the inspection we used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. 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.

During the inspection visit we spoke with a range of people about Santa Monica Healthcare. They included four people supported by the service, three support workers and the nominated individual for Santa Monica Healthcare. In addition we spoke with the registered manager and the care co-ordinator.

During our visit to the office premises we looked at the care records of two people, recruitment records, the training matrix and records relating to the management of the service.

Updated 23 November 2018

Santa Monica Healthcare Group provides domiciliary services to people who require support in their home within the Newton-Le-Willows, Cheshire areas. The service covers a wide range of dependency needs including Older People, Physical Disability, Sensory Impairment and younger adults. The service operates seven days a week and has out of hours contacts.

At our last inspection 04 March 2016, 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.

There was a registered manager in place. 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.

Procedures were in place to record safeguarding concerns, accidents and incidents and take necessary action as required. Staff had received safeguarding training and understood their responsibilities to report unsafe care or abusive practices.

Risk assessments had been developed to minimise the potential risk of harm to people during the delivery of their care. These had been kept under review and were relevant to the care provided by staff at Santa Monica Healthcare.

The registered manager had the same good systems for recruiting staff in place from the previous inspection. Also they monitored and regularly assessed staffing levels to ensure sufficient staff were available to provide support for people in their home.

Staff responsible for assisting people with their medicines had received training to ensure they had the competency and skills required.

People who received support in their own homes told us they felt safe in the care of Santa Monica staff. A person who used the service said, “I feel safe knowing they are in the same block. They are so kind and caring.”

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

Care plan information focused on a person-centred method of supporting people. In addition, information contained what support was required to maintain their independence.

People who used Santa Monica Healthcare had their support needs planned with them. People told us they had been consulted and listened to about how their care would be delivered.

During the inspection visit we spoke with people who used the agency. People told us staff were kind, respectful and attentive towards them. They said staff were caring, sensitive and patient. One person who received a service said, “They do respect this is my home. They always knock first and shout who they are.”

People who used the service knew how to complain and the system to go through should they need to. No complaints had been received however the registered manager was aware of how to respond to any concerns.

The service used a variety of methods to assess and monitor the quality of the service. These included, spot checks in people’s homes, satisfaction surveys and care reviews. People supported by the agency confirmed they had regular contact from the management team to ensure they were satisfied with the service.

The registered manager and staff were clear about their roles and responsibilities and were committed to providing a good standard of care and support to people in their care.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.