Background to this inspection
Updated
17 February 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
This 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 houses and flats.
The service did not have a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means the provider was legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection and provided an explanation as to the inspection process, and to assure ourselves effective implementation of COVID-19 guidance when visiting the office.
The inspection activity started on 18 January 2021 and ended on 25 January 2021. We visited the office on 19 January 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since it was registered. We sought feedback from the local authority and Healthwatch. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
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.
During the inspection
We spoke with one person who used the service and eight relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the manager, care workers and the nominated individual.
We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at two 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 manager to validate evidence found and feedback received from people and relatives we spoke with. We looked at training data, policies and procedures, and quality assurance records. We received feedback from a health care professional involved in the care of people using the service.
Updated
17 February 2021
About the service
Clarity homecare Milton Keynes is a domiciliary care service. The service provides care and support to people living in their own homes. This service also provides care and support to autistic people and people with a learning disability. At the time of the inspection there were 16 people 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 considered any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People’s safety was promoted. People felt safe with the staff and were happy with the care and support they provided which met their needs. Potential risks to people’s safety had been assessed, managed and was regularly reviewed. People supported people with their medicines safely. People’s dietary needs were met. People had access to health care services when needed and partnership working enabled effective outcomes for people.
Staff recruitment processes were followed. System were in place to ensures staff were fully trained in their role to meet people’s needs and protect them from avoidable harm. Staff had completed safeguarding training and recognised the signs of abuse and knew how to report concerns of potential abuse or poor practice.
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 reliable, kind and caring staff who they trusted. People received care and support from a small group of staff, which provided consistency.
People received person centred care. Individual decisions made about how they wished to be cared for were reflected in their care plans. Staff promoted people’s independence and respected their rights, privacy and dignity. Staff knew people well and respected their lifestyle and diverse culture.
The service was able to demonstrate how they were meeting the principles of ‘Right support, right care, right culture’. The manager and care staff promoted a positive culture and providing the right support tailored to each person. People had experienced significant change to their usual routines during the pandemic and could not pursue many of the activities they usually enjoyed. Care staff were responsive and provided alternative activities which promoted people’s social wellbeing. People and their relatives were actively involved in the development of their care plan and the care staff to support them, promoting their choices, rights and independence even during this pandemic when normal routines were disrupted.
The service did not have a manager registered with Care Quality Commission (CQC) although the manager had begun the process.
Everyone we spoke with told us the manager and provider were approachable and they were confident concerns would be addressed. The provider had systems in place to monitor and improve the quality and safety of the service provided. People’s views about the service were sought individually and through surveys.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
This service was registered with us on 9 September 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the date the service was registered.
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.