My Homecare Redbridge

Updated 23 June 2023

The inspection

This was a targeted inspection to check whether the provider had met the requirements of the warning notice in relation to Regulation 17 (Good Governance) of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes.

Registered manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

Our inspection was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a domiciliary service and we needed to be sure that a member of the management team was available to support us with the inspection.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed the information we already held about the service. This included the last inspection report, enforcement and notifications. A notification is information about important events, which the provider is required to tell us about by law.

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 of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager and nominated individual. We reviewed documents and records that related to people’s care and the management of the service. We reviewed 4 care plans, which included risk assessments and quality assurance records such as audits.

We spoke to 2 people that used the service, 2 relatives of a person that used the service and 2 staff.

Updated 23 June 2023

About the service

My Homecare Redbridge is a domiciliary care agency and is based in the London Borough of Redbridge. The service provides personal care to people in their own homes. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also consider any wider social care provided.

The service was supporting 11 people with personal care at the time of the inspection.

People’s experience of using this service

Risks assessments were not robust to ensure people received safe care. Systems were not in place to ensure staff attended calls on time.

Some care plans were not accurate and we found one person did not have a care plan to ensure they received safe person-centred care. Staff supervisions were not regular to ensure staff were being supported at all times. Robust assessments were not carried out on nutrition. We made a recommendation in this area.

Robust audit arrangements were not in place to ensure shortfalls could be identified and prompt action taken. Regulatory requirement were not being followed and CQC had not been notified where there had been allegations of abuse.

Staff were aware of how to safeguard people from abuse. Systems were in place to prevent and minimise the spread of infections when supporting people. Pre-employment checks had been carried out to ensure staff were suitable to work with vulnerable people. Medicines were being managed safely.

Staff had been trained to perform their roles effectively. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. Staff supported people in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People received care from staff who were caring and had a good relationship with them. Staff respected people’s privacy and dignity. People were encouraged to be independent and to carry out tasks without support.

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

Rating at last inspection

The previous rating for this service was Good (published 20 January 2021).

Why we inspected

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

The overall rating for the service has changed from Good to Requires Improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

You can read the report from our last inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for My Homecare Redbridge on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Enforcement and recommendations

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed.

We have identified breaches in relation to safe care and treatment, staffing, person-centred care and good governance at this inspection.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.