Background to this inspection
Updated
4 March 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 conducted 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 did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. The registered manager 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 manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. We also sought feedback from the local authority. We used all of this information to plan our inspection. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. 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 in making our judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with the nominated individual, the manager and the field care supervisor. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We reviewed a range of records which included six people’s care records and multiple medicines records. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We also spoke with five relatives, four staff and one social care professional about their experience of the service.
Updated
4 March 2021
About the service
Clarity Homecare Ealing is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. The majority of people funded their care privately. At the time of our inspection 19 people were using the service. 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
During the inspection we found the provider did not have appropriate risk assessments in place for staff around the risks of COVID-19. We have made a recommendation about COVID-19 risk assessments.
The provider had systems in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse and staff knew how to respond to possible safeguarding concerns. The provider followed safe recruitment procedures and medicines were managed safely. Staff followed appropriate infection prevention and control practices.
Staff were supported to provide effective care through induction, training and supervision. The provider assessed people's needs to ensure these could be met. 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 treated people well and were respectful. Staff provided care in a dignified way and provided day to day choices for people.
Care plans provided details of people’s preference for care and support and their current interests. This included people’s communication needs. There was a complaints procedure in place and the provider knew how to respond to complaints.
The provider had systems in place to monitor, manage and improve service delivery and to improve the care and support provided to people. Relatives and staff reported the manager was available and responsive.
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 04 /06/ 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was the service’s first inspection.
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.