1 Homecare Blackpool

Updated 21 August 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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes.

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

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure the manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 16 June 2021 and ended on 23 July 2021. We visited the office location on 16 June 2021. We reviewed documentation and contacted people who used the service, relatives of people and care staff by telephone to gather their views between 16 June and 8 July 2021.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed the information we held about the service including feedback from the local authority and notifications of significant events the provider had sent to us. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. 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. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

At the office we spoke with the registered manager, care coordinator, and the provider’s representative. We reviewed three staff files in relation to recruitment, training and supervision. We contacted six people who used the service and their relatives to gather their views. We also contacted five care staff to gather their views of the service. We reviewed care records, risk assessments and care notes for five people and reviewed a range of records related to the management of the service.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate the evidence found.

Updated 21 August 2021

About the service

1 Homecare Blackpool provides personal care to people in their own homes, in and around the Blackpool area. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive a regulated activity. 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 44 people were receiving personal care.

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

People felt safe and were protected against the risk of abuse. People received support from a consistent team of staff who knew them well. Staff were recruited safely and there were enough of them to meet people’s needs. Where people were supported to take their medicines, staff did so safely. The provider had robust infection prevention and control procedures to protect people from cross infection. The provider learnt from incidents and shared learning to improve the safety of the service.

People’s needs were thoroughly assessed to ensure they received the support they required. People received care from staff who were trained, competent and well-supported to carry out their role. Staff provided the support people needed with meals and drinks. The service worked with healthcare services to ensure people received the support they needed to maintain and improve their health. People made decisions about their care and their rights were protected. 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 were supported by staff who were kind and caring. People spoke very highly of the staff who supported them and the service as a whole. Staff respected and promoted people’s privacy, dignity and independence. Staff asked people for their views about their care and respected the decisions they made.

The service was responsive to people’s needs and took account of their preferences. People received high-quality, person-centred care. The provider had an effective procedure for receiving and responding to complaints about the service. The service could support people to remain at home as they reached the end of life.

The registered manager had developed a positive, person-centred culture within the service. The registered manager and staff team were committed to providing people with high-quality care. The registered manager understood their responsibilities under the duty of candour. The provider used feedback and the results of audits to continually improve 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 was the first inspection for the service.

Why we inspected

This service was registered with us on 24 July 2019 and this is the first inspection.

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.