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Combined Care Services

Overall: Good read more about inspection ratings

28 Maypole Crescent, Abram, Wigan, WN2 5YN 07830 522807

Provided and run by:
Mrs Gemma Louise Rhodes

Latest inspection summary

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Background to this inspection

Updated 6 August 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

This inspection was carried out by and 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

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

The first day of the inspection was announced. 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 was carried out between 29 June and 8 July 2022. Further inspection activity was completed via telephone and by email, including speaking with people who used the service, relatives and reviewing additional information sent to us by the registered manager.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from professionals who worked with the service, including Wigan local authority. The provider was asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We spoke with four people who used the service and four relatives about their experience of the care provided. We also spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager who is also the nominated individual/provider.

We reviewed a range of records. This included four people’s care records, a selection of medicine administration records (MAR) and three staff recruitment files. A variety of other records relating to the management of the service were also considered as part of the inspection.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found following our site visit.

Overall inspection

Good

Updated 6 August 2022

About the service

Combined Care Services is a domiciliary care service located in Wigan, Greater Manchester. 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 the inspection there six people receiving the regulated activity ‘Personal care’.

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

People who used the service and relatives said they felt the service was safe. Staff were recruited safely and there were enough staff to provide people’s care. Staff carried out routine COVID-19 testing and there was enough personal protective equipment (PPE) available which people confirmed was always worn.

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. People received enough to eat and drink and said provided assistance as needed. Staff told us enough training was available to support them in their roles, with ongoing supervision also provided.

We received positive feedback from people who used the service and relatives about the care provided. People said they felt treated with dignity, respect and had their independence promoted as required.

People had detailed care plans in place regarding the care and support staff needed to deliver. There was an appropriate complaints system and people were supported to attend activities in the local community if this formed part of their daily routine.

There were systems in place for people who used the service and staff to provide feedback about their care through audits, surveys and meetings. Staff spoken with during the inspection told us they felt the service was well-led and enjoyed their roles.

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 17 June 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

The service had not received a rating since registering with CQC. This was why we inspected.

The overall rating for the service is good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.

Follow up

We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.