Main site

Main Site, also known as Pre Care Services, is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to adults living in their own homes, some of whom required end of life care. At the time of the inspection, the service was supporting nineteen people.

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

Improvements were required to ensure records in relation to people’s care and management of staff were complete and accurate. The provider’s internal audits were not effective and had not identified the issues found at this inspection.

There was no evidence medicines were not administered safely, however there were still several issues with the quality of medication records. The provider was not always following their own medication policy or best practice guidance and regulations.

We could not be sure the equipment used to support people was always safe. We found inconsistent quality in how risks to people’s care were documented.

Recruitment processes did not always evidence robust checks had been completed to ensure staff were safe to work with people using the service. Staff followed appropriate infection control procedures and enough personal protective equipment was available.

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 in the service supported this practice. However, we found the provider’s understanding around the application of the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act was not robust. We had a recommendation for the provider to review this area.

Staff told us they enjoyed their job and felt well supported through by management. We found there was a system in place to ensure staff were inducted and shadowed experienced members of staff. Staff received varied training; however specific training to meet the needs of people required end of life care had not been offered.

People and their relatives told us staff were caring and provided a service that made them feel safe, promoted their independence and had a positive impact in their lives. People were supported by staff who were caring and respected their dignity and privacy.

People and relatives told us they had been involved in setting up and reviewing their care and were confident that any concerns raised to the provider would be appropriately acted upon.

People, relatives and staff told us the service was well managed and managers were responsive, approachable and directly involved in the delivery of care.

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 December 2019 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvement. Please see the safe, effective and well led sections of this full report.

You can see what action we have asked the provider to take at the end of this full report.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service.

We have identified breaches in relation to safe care and treatment, fit and proper persons employed and good governance at this inspection.

We made a recommendation for the provider to review good practice guidance in relation to the Mental Capacity Act.

Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

Follow up

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