Sagecare (Bournemouth)

Updated 12 May 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector and an Expert by Experience who made telephone calls to people using the service and their relatives. 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 to people living in their own houses and flats.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

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 registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 20 April 2022 and ended on 22 April 2022. We visited the location’s office 20 April 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority service improvement and safeguarding teams. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with nine people who used the service and their relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with and received feedback from nine members of staff including the registered manager, regional manager and care workers. We received feedback from two health and social care professionals who have worked with the service.

We reviewed a range of records. This included six people's care records and six medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data, care plans and quality assurance records.

Updated 12 May 2022

About the service

Sagecare (Bournemouth) is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes. 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 inspection the service was supporting 65 people in Bournemouth and Poole.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People, their relatives and staff told us that Sagecare (Bournemouth) provided care and support in a safe way. People had care plans and risk assessments in place, the service was transferring from paper records to an electronic system. We have made a recommendation about ensuring care plans are always person centred.

Infection control procedures were robust and regular checks were made to ensure all staff were working in safe ways. Staff had access to and wore correct personal protective equipment (PPE). Risks associated with COVID-19 for people and staff had been assessed and the service kept up to date with changing guidance. Staff testing was in line with guidance and everyone knew their responsibilities to protect people. Medicines were managed safely by a live electronic system which alerted the service office if medicines were delayed, this was monitored by the office and on call staff.

There were enough staff and recruitment was ongoing. Robust checks were made to ensure staff had the necessary skills and experience. Staff felt training was good and they were supported. Staff understood how to safeguard people from harm and abuse and were confident any concerns would be followed up by the registered manager and provider.

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. Consent was sought and where people needed support to make decisions the necessary legal process was followed.

People and their relatives told us staff were kind and caring. People were supported to be independent and be involved in their care. Staff were proud to work for Sagecare (Bournemouth) and told us the range of ways they helped people in their own homes.

Quality assurance systems were in place to monitor safety and to drive improvements. Systems were robust and checked all aspects of the service. The registered manager understood their responsibilities and people, their relatives and staff had confidence in them. The registered manager was supported well by the regional manager and the provider, additional checks at their level ensured the service was operating safely. The service worked well with external professionals and continued to build on those links within the community.

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 30/09/2019 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

We undertook this inspection to provide this service with its first rating. This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about the service.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.