Care in Kent Limited

Updated 1 April 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

This inspection was completed 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.

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 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that people who wanted to speak to us were available during the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 2 and ended on 10 March 2020. We visited the office location on 3 and 4 March 2020.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since they were registered. 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 four people and relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the provider, registered manager, care workers and the recruitment manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and medication records. We looked at four 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 sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service but did not receive any.

Updated 1 April 2020

About the service

Care in Kent provide personal care to 47 people in their own home. 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 were happy with the care they received from Care In Kent. One person told us “I wouldn’t want anyone else. I am delighted. They are very good”.

The registered manager and provider had oversight of the service. Regular robust checks were completed on the quality of care people received. Any shortfalls were addressed and action was taken to prevent them happening again. The provider had plans in place to continually improve the service.

People were protected from the risks of harm and abuse. Staff knew how to identify and raise any concerns they had. Concerns raised had been listened to and acted on. Risks had been assessed with people and ways to keep them safe, while remaining independent, had been agreed.

Staff supported people to remain well. People were offered food and drinks they liked. People’s medicines were managed safely. Staff practice protected people from the risk of infection.

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 had planned their care with staff and were supported to live their lives in the way they wanted. People had been invited to share their end of life preferences.

People, their relatives and staff were asked for their views of the service. These were listened to and acted on to improve the service.

The registered manager and provider understood their legal responsibilities and had shared information with us and others when they needed to.

There were enough staff to support people. People received their care from s team of staff they knew. Staff arrived at the agreed time. Staff had the skills they required to care for people and were supported by the registered manager and provider. Staff were recruited safely.

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

Rating at last inspection

The last rating for this service was good (published 4 October 2017). Since this rating was awarded the registered provider of the service has changed it’s name and the service has moved premises. We have used the previous rating to inform our planning and decisions about the rating at this inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.

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.