Background to this inspection
Updated
8 March 2023
The inspection
We carried out this performance review and assessment under Section 46 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act). We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements of the regulations associated with the Act and looked at the quality of the service to provide a rating.
Unlike our standard approach to assessing performance, we did not physically visit the office of the location. This is a new approach we have introduced to reviewing and assessing performance of some care at home providers. Instead of visiting the office location we use technology such as electronic file sharing and video or phone calls to engage with people using the service and staff.
Inspection team
The inspection team consisted of 1 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 and specialist housing.
Registered Manager
This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was announced.
We gave the service 24 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 22 December 2022 and ended on 20 January 2023.
What we did before inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. 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 2 members of staff, including the registered manager who is also the nominated individual and a care worker. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We reviewed a range of records. This included care records for 1 person, in relation to their care plan and risk assessments. We looked at 1 staff file in relation to recruitment, supervision and training. We looked at training data. We reviewed policies and procedures and records related to the running of the service. We spoke with 1 relative about their experience of the care provided.
Updated
8 March 2023
About the service
Unit 214-2-8 Fountayne Rd is a domiciliary care service providing personal care to adults living in their own homes. The service provides support to people with dementia, a learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder, mental health needs, older people, physical disability, sensory impairment and younger adults. At the time of our inspection the service was providing care to 1 person.
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 there were three people receiving a personal care service.
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Right support
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 lived at home with family members who told us their relative was safe with care staff.
People had their risks assessed to reduce the risk of potential harm to them. Risks were not always fully assessed. We have made a recommendation in relation to risk assessments. Recruitment checks were carried out to ensure staff employed were safe to work with people. Systems were in place to report and learn from any incidents where restrictive practices were used.
People were cared for and supported by staff who were suitably trained and supported to effectively perform their roles and responsibilities.
Right care
Care was person-centred and promoted people’s dignity, privacy and human rights. People were safeguarded from the risk of abuse as staff knew how to report concerns should they suspect or witness abuse. Relatives told us staff were kind and caring towards their relative and treated them with dignity and respect. Relatives confirmed that they were included in decision making about their relative’s care. People were supported to maintain their privacy, dignity and independence by a staff who knew them well.
People had their communication needs met and information was shared in a way that could be understood.
Right culture
The ethos, values, attitudes and behaviours of management and care staff promoted a service which was inclusive, empowered and encouraged good outcomes for people who used the service. Relatives spoke positively of the service. Managers ensured that staff had relevant training and supervision. Systems were in place to obtain feedback on the service and monitor the quality of the service. Audits were not always effective in ensuring records were consistent and detailed. We have made a recommendation in relation to effective auditing and recording of information.
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 16/09/2021 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the service no longer being dormant after becoming active in January 2022.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.