Background to this inspection
Updated
12 February 2020
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
The inspection team consisted of one inspector.
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 a short notice period 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 9 January and ended 17 January 2020. We visited the office location on 10 January 2020.
What we did before the inspection
We used the information we held on the service. 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.
During the inspection
We spoke with two people and two relatives of those who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the provider, registered manager, senior care worker, care workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and medicine records. We looked at five 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.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.
Updated
12 February 2020
About the service
Kinect Services Limited is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to people in their own homes. 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. At the time of the inspection there were seven people using the service, however only four people were receiving personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and relatives told us that they felt safe using the service and appreciated having the same care staff. Staff always attended visits, usually at the time arranged and if they were going to be late, people were informed.
People and relatives said staff were very good and treated them respectfully in a dignified manner. They were happy with the care they were receiving. People confirmed that staff followed infection control procedures and used gloves and aprons when attending to personal care.
A comprehensive initial assessment was carried out by the registered manager and people confirmed they were involved in their care planning. Computerised care plans were person-centred and provided easy to follow guidance for staff. Relatives told us they liked the accessibility they had to the care plans, which allowed them to leave messages for staff and to monitor the care their relative was receiving.
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.
People and relatives were confident that if they had any concerns they could raise them with the registered manager and they would be dealt with appropriately.
Oversight of the service was managed by the registered manager and senior care worker, and the computerised care plans allowed for ‘live-time’ monitoring. They worked alongside staff, providing observational supervisions and guidance.
Staff recruitment files demonstrated that all staff had received a DBS check however some aspects of the recruitment process were not completed. Some staff references that were requested had not been received. We discussed this with the registered manager. Since the inspection the registered manager had informed us they had followed up reference requests and had introduced a new check list. Staff had received a comprehensive induction and observational competency supervisions.
Staff received training, which consisted of theory and practical sessions. Training subjects completed were recorded in different documents. The registered manager was reviewing a system to collate training information. We discussed with the registered manager systems that would notify when refresher courses were due. Since the inspection, the registered manager has told us they have now entered information on the recall computer system.
We spoke with the provider who was confident in the management skills of the registered manager. The registered manager was professionally qualified and experienced and told us they felt supported by the provider.
Meetings were held weekly with the provider and registered manager. Because the service was small and new, there had been no formal staff meetings. The registered manager told us they were arranging to hold staff meetings.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
This service was registered with us on 18 January 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the registration date.
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.