Background to this inspection
Updated
21 July 2021
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 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 houses and flats and specialist housing.
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 3 June 2021 and ended on 9 June 2021. We visited the office location on 3 June 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since it was registered with the Care Quality Commission. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with three people who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, senior care workers and care workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included six 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 audits and quality assurance systems were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at policies and procedures and staff rotas.
Updated
21 July 2021
About the service
My Homecare Liverpool is a domiciliary care agency that provides personal care to people in their own homes. At the time of the inspection, the service was providing personal care to 14 people.
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's needs were assessed when they first started using the service and assessments focused on people's personal likes and preferences as well as their physical care and support needs. Improvements were needed to ensure that care plans included information about whether a person wanted to be resuscitated. We made a recommendation about this.
People's needs had been assessed to help mitigate risks and the registered manager updated risk assessments when people’s needs changed. Accidents and incidents were responded to appropriately. People were supported to take their medicines safely. Staff followed good infection control practices. Staff were safely recruited and people told us they were supported by a small and consistent staff team who knew them well. One person told us, “[staff] always have time to have a chat, I never feel rushed.”
Staff received training to complete their job roles effectively and gained practical experience by shadowing experienced staff. Staff were confident they knew who to contact if people required health support. One person told us they were recovering from a health condition and told us, “[staff] made a real difference to my recovery.”
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 were treated with kindness and respect, comments included, “[Staff] are very kind and very friendly.” Staff showed a good understanding of people's likes, dislikes and preferences and explained how they supported people according to these during their care visits. Staff had an opportunity to meet people prior to carrying out care tasks. This helped to maintain people’s dignity. People and their relatives were involved in the planning of care needs. Care plans were reviewed regularly to ensure people’s views and experiences were considered.
People’s communication needs were discussed during the initial stages of the care planning process. Care plans detailed the support people needed to promote good emotional wellbeing. People told us they felt they would be listened to if they had a complaint.
People and relatives provided positive feedback about the friendly and positive nature of the registered manager and staff team. The registered manager promoted a positive culture and led by example. Staff told us the registered manager was approachable, professional and always contactable. Surveys were sent to people to ensure their views were considered. The service had a quality assurance process in place. Audits on areas of care provision including medicine administration and care plan reviews were undertaken to monitor standards, and to identify where improvements could be made.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 17 June 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.