Background to this inspection
Updated
2 December 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 an inspector 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 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
We gave the service 48 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 13 October 2022 and ended on 14 October 2022.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from professionals who work with the service. The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with 6 people who use the service and 6 relatives. We spoke with 7 members of staff, including care staff, the registered manager and the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.
We looked at a range of records including care plans and risk assessments, and policies and procedures. We checked rotas and 3 staff recruitment records.
Updated
2 December 2022
About the service
Domiciliary Home Care Services is a care agency providing personal care and support to people living in their own homes. At the time of our inspection there were 63 people using the service. 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 44 people were in receipt of personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People were supported by consistent and knowledgeable staff. Care was safe and a person supported told us, “I’m doing fine with the care I’m getting and I’m safe.” Staff wore correct PPE during their care visits and supported people to take their medicines safely. People’s needs and risks were assessed thoroughly by the registered manager.
People were supported by staff that knew them well and staff had consistent and manageable rotas. One person told us, “The punctuality is very good, and I know who to expect and when.” Staff received thorough, up to date training and could access people’s care plans easily. People were supported to attend their health appointments.
People commented how caring and respectful staff were and spoke highly of the care received. One person said, “They are very caring and keen to find out about what I like. They have a smashing personality and lift my spirits up.” A relative said, “My (relative) really enjoys their company, I can’t praise them enough.”
People could give feedback about the care via surveys and regular visits from the registered manager. People commented how quickly any concerns raised were responded to. A relative said, “I’m very satisfied that they do all the duties and often offer extra support.” Many staff could speak different languages to meet the needs of people that lived in the community.
People spoke highly of the registered manager and many said they would recommend the company to others. One person said, “If there are issues, the manager is quick to keep me in the loop’; and, ‘Wow what a company.” The registered manager involved people that used the service and staff in different ways and was committed to continuously improving the 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.
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.
Right Care: Staff worked hard to make sure that care was tailored to each person according to their likes and dislikes. Staff upheld people’s dignity, privacy and human rights.
Right Culture: The registered managed led by example in establishing an ethos of inclusivity and empowerment. Staff encouraged people to be as independent as possible.
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 November 2020 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.