Background to this inspection
Updated
2 December 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 carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care and treatment of disease, disorder and injury to people living in their own houses and flats and specialist housing.
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
This inspection was unannounced on the first day of inspection. The provider knew we were returning for the second day.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who might work with the service. 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 five people who used the service and six relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager, a care coordinator and two directors for the service. We reviewed a range of records. This included six people’s care records. We looked at five staff files in relation to recruitment. We also looked at a variety of records relating to the management of the service.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. This included speaking to two members of care staff. We looked at further evidence sent to us by the registered manager in regard to staffing and training.
Updated
2 December 2021
About the service
The London Teaching Pool Limited is a domiciliary care agency registered to provide personal care and treatment for disease, disorder and or injury. At the time of the inspection, six people were receiving support with personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Recruitment practice was generally robust; however, we have made a recommendation about this as people’s entire employment history was not always recorded.
There were systems and documentation in place to support staff to keep people safe from abuse. When staff had concerns for people’s safety, the provider acted appropriately. People’s medicines were managed safely. Risks to people were assessed and monitored. Infection prevention and control measures were in place. Lessons were learned when things went wrong to minimise the risk of reoccurrence.
People’s needs were assessed before they used the service so the provider knew whether they could meet people’s needs. Staff were trained on how to perform their role effectively and were provided an induction before starting employment. They also received supervision and appraisals. People were supported to eat and drink. Staff worked with other agencies to provide effective care and the registered manager referred people to other health care professionals where required.
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’s consent was sought when care was provided.
People and relatives told us staff were caring. People’s equality and diversity was respected as was their privacy and dignity. People and relatives were able to express their views about the care provided. People were encouraged to be independent.
Staff had been trained in end of life care and people were supported at end of life. Care plans recorded people’s needs and preferences and people received person centred care. People’s communication needs were met by staff and their communication needs and preferences recorded in care plans. People were supported with activities they wanted to do. People and relatives were able to complain, and the registered manager dealt with complaints appropriately.
There were quality assurance systems in place, so the provider was able to continuously learn and improve, this included gathering feedback from people and relatives. Staff were able to engage with the provider through regular meetings. The service was person centred and people and relatives thought highly of the staff and management. The service worked in partnership with others to benefit people using the service.
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 01 July 2019 and this is the first comprehensive inspection. We completed a focused inspection and rated the service Good in both Safe and Well Led (published 16 April 2021)
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.