Care Partners Newbury Ltd

Updated 31 January 2018

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.

The service was last inspected in October 2015 when it was rated Good overall with Requires Improvement in Effective (no breach).

This comprehensive inspection took place on 5 December 2017 and was announced. It was carried out by one inspector, supported by an expert by experience who carried out telephone surveys of a sample of eight people receiving support, four relatives and eight staff. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be available to assist with the inspection.

The service had submitted a pre-inspection information return (PIR), in September 2017. This 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 looked at the information provided in the PIR and used this to help us plan the inspection.

Prior to the inspection we reviewed all the current information we held about the service. This included any notifications that we received. Notifications are reports of events the provider is required by law to inform us about. We contacted representatives of the local authority who funded people supported by the service, for their feedback.

During the inspection we spoke with the registered manager. We examined a sample of five care plans and other documents relating to people’s care. We looked at a sample of other records to do with the operation of the service, including three recent recruitment records, training and supervision records and medicines recording.

Updated 31 January 2018

Care Partners is a domiciliary care agency providing care and support to 62 people living in their own homes at the time of this inspection.

At the last inspection in October 2015, the service was rated Good overall with Requires Improvement in Effective (No breach). We found some people were concerned about staff timekeeping and felt their care was sometimes rushed or visits cut short. We recommended the service look further into the reasons for this in case other improvements were possible.

This inspection took place on 5 December 2017. We gave short notice of the inspection to ensure the registered manager would be available to assist us. At this inspection we found the service remained Good overall. Further steps had been taken to address the previous concerns and feedback suggested improvements had resulted. This meant the service was now rated Good in Effective. The service had been proactive in addressing this as well as working with the local authority quality team to improve records and monitoring systems.

People were kept as safe as possible because staff understood how to report risk of harm and the organisation took appropriate action when any concerns arose. People’s medicines were managed within appropriate procedures where the service was responsible for this. Identified risks to people were assessed and mitigated without undue risk to people’s freedom. Robust recruitment checks helped ensure that staff employed had the necessary skills and approach.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People’s rights and freedom were protected and their consent was sought prior to care being provided to them. People were involved as much as possible in discussions about their care and day-to-day decisions about it.

Staff received a detailed induction and training programme to equip them with the skills and knowledge they needed. They received ongoing support through supervision. However, their development and support would be further enhanced through providing distinct annual development appraisals and increased frequency of team meetings.

Staff were caring and treated people with kindness, respecting their dignity, privacy and any cultural or other individual needs. The service made certain people were cared for in line with the Equality Diversity and Human Rights Act (EDHR). For example, people with 'protected characteristics' such as a physical disability had care plans to ensure they were supported appropriately with their communication assistive technology.

The service responded positively to complaints and requests for changes to people’s support. People’s views had been sought about the care provided by the service. The views of staff and external professionals had also been sought and used to inform continued development.

The service was managed effectively. Records were monitored and care practice was observed to help ensure standards were maintained.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.