Background to this inspection
Updated
20 January 2022
The inspection
We carried out this performance review and assessment under Section 46 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act). We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements of the regulations associated with the Act and looked at the quality of the service to provide a rating.
Unlike our standard approach to assessing performance, we did not physically visit the office of the location. This is a new approach we have introduced to reviewing and assessing performance of some care at home providers. Instead of visiting the office location we use technology such as electronic file sharing and video or phone calls to engage with people using the service and staff.
Inspection team
This inspection was undertaken 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.
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 did not give the provider notice of this inspection.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since registration. 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. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
Inspection activity started on 06 January 2022 and ended on 13 January 2022. We received feedback from two people who used the service and five relatives about their experience of the care provided. We received feedback from three care workers, and we had a video call with the registered manager on 13 January 2022. We reviewed a range of records relating to the management of the service, including two care plans and risk assessments, staff training records, evidence of monitoring staff practice and medication competencies.
Updated
20 January 2022
About the service
Freedom Care (Herts) Limited is a domiciliary care service providing personal care to people living in their own houses or flats. It provides a service to older people, younger adults, people living with a physical disability and people living with dementia. At the time of this inspection 29 people were receiving support with personal care.
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 felt safe and were protected from avoidable harm because staff knew how to identify and report any concerns relating to the risk of abuse. Risks to people’s health, safety and well-being were assessed and plans developed to remove or reduce the risk.
The registered manager operated robust recruitment procedures; appropriate checks were undertaken to help ensure staff were suitable to work at the service. Staff received training and supervision necessary to their role. People’s medicines were managed safely. Staff had their competency assessed to help ensure they were sufficiently skilled and knowledgeable to safely administer medicines.
Before care delivery started, assessments were undertaken to help make sure people’s needs could be met by Freedom Care (Herts) Limited. Management and staff knew people well and were able to promptly identify when people’s needs changed, and they sought professional advice appropriately.
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 received training in infection control practices and personal protective equipment was provided for them. The management team took appropriate action following any incidents and learning from these were shared with the staff team to help improve practice.
People received consistent care from a small team of staff. People knew about their care plans and could decide what care and support they needed.
People and relatives praised the kind and caring nature of the staff and management. People and their relatives said they would be confident to raise any concerns with the management team. Everyone we spoke with during this inspection was satisfied with the care and support they received and said they would recommend Freedom Care (Herts) to people looking to have care provided in their own homes.
The management team was passionate about providing good and safe care and understood their responsibilities under the Duty of Candour. People, their relatives and staff members spoke highly of the management team and told us that they were always available and supportive.
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 18 April 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the date of registration with CQC.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our reinspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.