We carried out a review of the data available to us about Helping Hands Highbury & Islington 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 Helping Hands Highbury & Islington, you can give feedback on this service.
Helping Hands Highbury & Islington is a domiciliary care agency that provides care and support to younger and older people in their own home. People receiving a service included those with dementia, mental health, physical disabilities and learning disabilities. 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 our visit the service was providing regulated activity to 14 people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were receiving safe care. The service assessed risks related to people’s health conditions and care provided. Staff were given guidelines on how to minimise identified risks. Staff had training in safeguarding people. Recruitment procedures were safe to ensure people were protected from unsuitable staff. People received their medicines safely by trained staff. There were enough care staff deployed to support people as agreed.
The service assessed people’s health and care needs before they started receiving support. Each person had a care plan that included information about their care needs and preferences. Staff were also provided with information about people’s life history, interests and what was important to them.
Staff received suitable training and regular supervision. Senior staff checked staff during spot checks to help ensure staff provided safe and effective care Staff supported people to live a healthy life and have a suitable diet. Care staff and managers worked with external health professionals when people’s health needs had changed, or their health suddenly deteriorated.
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 spoke fondly about the staff who supported people. They described staff as kind, considerate and always willing to go an extra mile. People told us that staff protected their privacy and dignity when supporting them.
Staff understood how to encourage people’s independence. They also told us about the importance of building positive relationships with people regardless of their condition, personal background and ways people chose to live their life.
Complaints were dealt with promptly and with consideration to people’s and relatives needs and expectations.
People and their relatives, staff and external professionals all thought the service was well managed. The management team was approachable, supportive and taking prompt action when shortfalls in the care and the service provided were identified. There were effective monitoring systems in place to ensure the service was run effectively, safely and the lessons were learnt when things went wrong.
Rating at last inspection (and update). This service was registered with us on 19 May 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
The inspection was prompted in part due to concerns received about risk assessments for staff providing care during the Covid19 pandemic. This issue was identified during our Emergency Support Framework (ESF) telephone conversation with the registered manager in August 2020. The service predominately provides care to private service users and we had limited information about the quality and safety of care provided. A decision was made for us to inspect and examine those risks.
We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe and well led sections of this full report.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service.