I Care (GB) Limited - Wirral

Updated 7 May 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by two inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). 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 four people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff as well as the registered manager.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records and medication records. We looked at three 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 provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 7 May 2022

About the service

I Care (GB) Limited – Wirral is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care and support to people living in their own homes. 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 inspection 32 people were receiving a service.

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

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 supported people to take medicines safely. Staff were trained in medicines management and knew how to ensure that people received their prescribed medicines on time.

Staff received an induction and were supported through a programme of regular supervision and training.

Feedback from people and their relatives showed there were few punctuality issues. Although staffing had been problematic due to staff absences the provider had managed to minimise the impact on the people using the service.

People received person centred care. Their assessments showed they had been involved in the process. Care plans described how people should be supported so that their privacy and dignity were upheld.

Care workers demonstrated good knowledge and skills necessary for their role. People's health needs were met. The service worked with a range of external professionals, so people received coordinated care.

People were protected from the risks associated with poor infection control because the service had processes in place to reduce the risk of infection and cross contamination.

There were governance structures and systems which were regularly reviewed. There was a complaints procedure in place, which people and their relatives were aware of. Quality assurance processes such as audits and spot checks, were used to drive improvements. The provider was in the process of changing over to an electronic form of care plans, however the existing care plans held appropriate information for staff to safely support people.

Rating at last inspection This service was registered with us on 19 March 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Follow up

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