- Homecare service
Optimum Care (South) Ltd
Report from 16 January 2024 assessment
Contents
Ratings
Our view of the service
Optimum Care (South) Ltd is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to people in their own homes. The service provides care to older people, those living with dementia and people with physical disabilities. This assessment started on 13 February 2024 and ended on 26 March 2024. We visited the registered office on 6 March 2024. There were 14 people using the service. This assessment was completed in response to concerns received in relation to the management of the service. The registered manager was absent during the course of this assessment. People were happy with the support they received from staff. They told us they felt safe and that they could raise any concerns they may have. Staff told us they felt supported by the management team and reflected on recent improvements to staff morale at the service. However, we found four breaches of regulation in relation to safeguarding, safe care and treatment, governance and notification of incidents to CQC. The provider had failed to ensure the quality of care was monitored. There was no effective system of governance in place and quality assurance systems were not embedded within the service. This meant gaps in risk assessments and inconsistencies in care plans had not been identified. Risks in relation to choking, pressure wound management, management of specific health conditions and medicine administration were not fully assessed. This meant important information was not available to staff supporting people on a daily basis, which could put them at risk of receiving incorrect or inappropriate care. We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found at this assessment.
People's experience of this service
People told us that they felt safe and were positive about the care they received. They told us they were usually supported by regular care staff, who were familiar with their needs. Most people felt staff had the right skills and experience to support them. People told us they were involved in decisions about care and were supported to maintain their independence. They also told us that staff were kind and respectful towards them. While the people we spoke to expressed that they were generally happy with their care, our assessment found elements of care did not meet the expected standards.