We carried out a review of the data available to us about Freedom Care (Herts) Limited on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about Freedom Care (Herts) Limited, you can give feedback on this 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.