Rainbow Direct Care

Updated 27 November 2021

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide 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

This inspection was conducted by one inspector.

Service and service type

Rainbow Direct Care is a domiciliary care service, registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes in the community.

The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). This means 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 two working days' notice of our inspection. This was because we needed to be sure the registered manager would be available to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 1 November and ended on 2 November 2021. We visited the office location on 1 November 2021.

What we did before the inspection

In planning our inspection, we reviewed information we had received about the service. This included any notifications (events which happened in the service that the provider is required to tell us about) and feedback from the local authority.

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

As part of the inspection we spoke with five people using the service and five relatives. We had discussions with the registered manager and the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We also spoke with four care and support staff and received written feedback from a further three staff members.

We spoke with a healthcare professional involved in one person’s care who the service was supporting.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records, their risk assessments and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including staff rotas, accident and incident analysis, the complaints log and quality assurance records.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at key policies and procedures, staff training information and governance information.

Updated 27 November 2021

About the service

Rainbow Direct Care is a domiciliary care service. It is registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes in the community. At the time of the inspection there were 19 people receiving personal care and support.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found There were systems and processes in place to safeguard people from potential harm. All the people we spoke with told us they felt safe when receiving care. Staff completed training about safeguarding people from harm and knew how to report abuse. Risks to people’s safety were assessed and strategies were put in place to reduce the risks.

There were sufficient numbers of staff to meet people's needs safely. We saw on the staff rotas that staff had sufficient travel time between care calls. They were supported by regular staff who knew them and their needs well, which promoted continuity of care. The provider had followed their recruitment practices to ensure people employed were suitable to work at the service and support people.

Where the provider took on the responsibility, people's medicines were safely managed. Systems were in place to control and prevent the spread of infection.

People’s needs, and choices were fully assessed before they received a care package. Staff received an induction and ongoing training that enabled them to have the skills and knowledge to provide effective care.

Where the provider took on the responsibility, people were supported to eat and drink enough to meet their dietary needs. People were supported to live healthier lives and staff helped them to access healthcare services when required. We saw that the service worked closely with healthcare professionals to ensure good outcomes for people.

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 were kind and caring and provided people with warm, person-centred care. Staff understood people’s individual care needs and preferences and used this knowledge to provide people with good quality care.

People and their families were fully involved in the care planning and reviews of their care. The provider had a complaints procedure which was accessible to people using the service. This was used effectively when complaints were received.

The service had good governance systems in place to ensure all aspects of the service and people’s care were continuously assessed and monitored. A range of audits were in place to monitor the quality and safety of service provision. Lessons were learned when things went wrong, and the provider was committed to the continuous improvement of the service.

The service was well-managed and well-led. Everyone we spoke with knew who the registered manager was and said they saw them regularly. They told us they were approachable and always available to talk.

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 CQC on 11 September 2019 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected:

This was a planned inspection following registration.

Follow up:

We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.