Archived: Kope-Medics Ltd

Updated 30 June 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 one inspector with remote support form a children’s services 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.

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.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small, and we needed to be sure that the registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 16 March 2022, and we visited the location’s office on 17 March 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about 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.

During the inspection

We spoke with the registered manager and the clinical lead. We reviewed a range of records. This included six people’s records and four people's medicines records. We looked at two 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 viewed.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to confirm evidence found. We looked at client support plans and risk assessments. We spoke with five relatives about their experience of the service. We contacted nine professionals who worked with the service, and we received feedback from four. We sent a questionnaire to all staff, and we received feedback from 30 staff members.

Updated 30 June 2022

About the service

Kope Medic provides a range of services to people in their own home including personal care.

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 two adults and 26 children were receiving personal care, six children were being supported with medicines . The provider was supporting children who lived at home. Some of the children had complex health conditions.

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

People's medicines were not always managed in a safe way. Some risks to people had not been identified or addressed. The registered manager was not following their safeguarding policy as they were not notifying the CQC of safeguarding concerns.

Children’s nutritional and hydrational needs were not always being recorded which meant the registered manager was not always aware if they were supporting children in line with their care plan.

The provider did not have effective quality assurance systems in place to monitor, manage and improve service delivery. Care plans were not always person centred and did not provide accurate information. This meant staff did not always know important information about people.

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

The registered manager demonstrated a willingness to make further improvements and after the inspections sent us documentation to evidence how they were committed to improving the service. This included evidence of more robust care planning and risk assessments.

Staff were recruited safely. Care workers were supported in their roles through regular team meetings and supervision. Staff followed appropriate infection prevention and control practices. Staff spoke positively about the registered manager and senior staff. They felt they were supported and that they had the necessary information to provide care. Family members were happy with the care their loved one received. They felt staff were well trained and the registered manager was very committed to the service.

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 31 December 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.

Enforcement and Recommendations

We are mindful of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our regulatory function. This meant we took account of the exceptional circumstances arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic when considering what enforcement action was necessary and proportionate to keep people safe as a result of this inspection. We will continue to monitor the service and will take further action if needed.

We have identified breaches in relation to person centred care, safe care and treatment, staffing and good governance. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.

We have recommended that the provider seek and implement national guidance in relation to safeguarding and recording information accurately.

Follow up

We will request an action plan from the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.