Background to this inspection
Updated
23 October 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. 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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
One inspector carried out this inspection.
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.
Inspection activity started on 07 October 2019, when we visited the office location and ended on 10 October 2019.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since they were registered We sought feedback from the local authority, Healthwatch and health and social care professionals who work with the service. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with six people who used the service, one person’s friend and five relatives about their experience of the care provided. This included conversations on the telephone and in person during visits to people’s homes. We spoke with eight members of staff including a company director, the registered manager and care staff. We spoke with two social care professionals who regularly visit the service.
We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed. We also looked at training data and quality assurance records.
Updated
23 October 2019
About the service
Hands on Healthcare Solutions is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to 18 people at the time of the inspection. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. 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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People told us they felt safe because staff treated them well and had never missed a care visit. One person said, "Well, they do everything well, I am very satisfied with what I have had up to now. Staff treat me very well and never miss a call. Staff speak nicely and show respect they chat to you and ask if there is anything else they can they do."
People were safe as staff had received training in safeguarding adults and had a good understanding of the types and symptoms of abuse. Staff knew how to report concerns and were confident to do so.
People said they received their medicines on time and correctly. Staff worked with the local health professionals and pharmacies to ensure people had the right medicine and health support at the right times.
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. Staff had a good understanding of the Mental Capacity Act and how to support people to make decisions or report concerns of capacity where people's abilities had changed.
People were supported by staff to follow their own preferred diets and religious and cultural needs. This included specialist diets recommended by health professionals. Staff supported people to access a range of health professionals as they required it.
People told us staff were kind and caring and never rushed them. Staff supported people to review their care needs regularly involving their relatives and health professionals as requested. People were supported to live independently and find ways to maintain this.
People were supported to receive care that was in line with their preferred methods and needs, taking into account their abilities and cultural sensitivities. People had not yet had to make complaints but were confident they would be listened to if they raised a concern.
People were encouraged by staff to give feedback on the service and suggest ideas for improvements. The registered manager had created an open, person centred culture and a clear vision of good quality personalised care that was shared by the staff team and experienced by people receiving care.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection:
This service was registered with us on 3 November 2018 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the date of registration.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.