Background to this inspection
Updated
11 January 2019
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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.
This was an announced comprehensive inspection. We gave the provider two working days notice of the inspection because the service provides care to people in their own homes and we wanted to make sure that the provider was available on the day of the inspection.
The inspection took place on 14 November 2018 and was carried out by one inspector.
Before the inspection we looked at information we held about the service. This information included any statutory notifications that the provider had sent to the Care Quality Commission. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. The provider had completed a Provider Information Return [PIR]. The PIR is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We discussed the PIR with the registered manager during the inspection.
During the inspection at the office we spoke with the provider who is also the registered manager, the office manager and two care staff. Following the inspection, we spoke with three people using the service, four people’s relatives and two care staff by telephone. We also contacted four healthcare and social care professionals and received feedback from one healthcare professional at the time of writing this report.
We reviewed a variety of records which related to people's individual care and the running of the service. These records included care files of four people using the service, four staff records and a range of other records including the service user guide and staff handbook.
Updated
11 January 2019
R&S Medical & Allied Services Limited is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal and nursing care services to people in their own homes and hospitals. The service provides care to people with a range of care needs including those living with dementia, and people receiving end of life care.
Some people using the service receive support with tasks including shopping and house work not the regulated activity personal care. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects the service received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. We also take into account any wider social care provided. R&S Medical & Allied Services Limited also provides personal care for children but at the time of the inspection there were no children receiving a service. There were thirteen people using the service at the time of the inspection.
At our last inspection we rated the service Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection. At this inspection we found the service remained Good.
People using the service and their relatives informed us that they were satisfied with the care and support that people received. People received consistency of care from staff who they knew.
People using the service told us that staff treated them with respect and they felt safe when staff supported them with their care and other tasks. They told us that staff were reliable, respected their privacy and understood their needs.
Arrangements were in place to keep people safe. Staff knew how to identify abuse and understood their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding people and reporting all concerns.
Risks to people’s safety were identified and monitored.
Arrangements were in place to make sure people received their medicines as prescribed.
Appropriate checks were carried out before staff started to work to make sure they were suitable to work with people using the service. The provider ensured that there were enough staff in place with the right skills mix to meet people's needs.
People and where applicable their relatives, were fully involved in making decisions about people’s care. Staff respected the choices people made and supported people’s independence. Staff understood the importance of obtaining people’s agreement before supporting them with personal care and other tasks.
Staff received training which was relevant to their role. They received ongoing support from the registered manager and office manager.
People’s care plans included information about the care people needed and wanted, so staff had the necessary information to effectively meet each person’s individual needs.
The service was flexible and responsive, so changes in people’s needs and preferences were met.
Staff had a good understanding about people’s equality and diversity needs and knew the importance of respecting people’s differences and human rights.
The service liaised with healthcare and social care professionals to make sure people’s needs were met.
People, their relatives and care staff told us they thought the service was well run and would recommend it.
There were systems in place to check, monitor and develop the service. We found some quality monitoring records could be developed to better show the effectiveness of the quality checks that the service carried out. Action to address this was commenced by the registered manager and the office manager during the inspection.