Guild Healthcare

Updated 22 February 2023

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 one 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. This service also provides care and support to people living in 2 ‘supported living’ settings, so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.

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 6 February 2023 and ended on 16 February 2023. We visited the location’s office on 6 February 2023.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed our systems and information we held 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. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We spoke with 5 people who used the service and 11 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We also had contact with 12 members of staff including care staff, the registered manager and the care manager. We reviewed a range of records. This included care plans and a variety of other records relating to the management of the service were also considered as part of the inspection.

Updated 22 February 2023

About the service

Guild Healthcare is a domiciliary care agency that, at the time of the inspection, was supporting 58 people living in their own homes within the local community. 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

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

We had concerns at our last inspection and rated the service requires improvement in two key questions and overall. We also found two breaches of the Health and Social Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014.

At this inspection we found improvements had been made in relation to how the service was monitored and audited which had resulted in improvements in the management of risk, medicines and compliance with the Mental Capacity Act. The service was no longer in breach of the regulations.

There were sufficient numbers of safely recruited staff available to meet people's needs. People received their care visits at the times they expected, for the length of time agreed, and from staff they were familiar with. One person’s relative said, “There are enough staff to carry out the care package. We have one carer for most of the time and the replacements for time-off etc are fairly regular. I’m kept up to date with a weekly schedule and if there any unforeseen changes I’m promptly kept informed.”

Medicines were managed safely, and staff were appropriately trained. People and their relatives were assured that safe infection control measures were taken by staff such as wearing PPE and following infection control procedures to reduce the risks of infection.

People receiving the service and their relatives both told us they were satisfied with the standard of care and support provided. People were cared for and supported by staff who were suitably trained. Assessments of people's support needs and wishes were carried out before they were provided with a service. Where staff were responsible for assisting people to eat and drink, their dietary needs and wishes were assessed and met. People were supported to stay healthy and well, and to access relevant community health and social care services as and when required.

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. One person’s relative said, " I feel that my [family member] is safe and receives the care and support they need. The care package was put together in consultation with me as my [family member] lacks the mental capacity for any discussion.”

The service was well-led by a management team who maintained good oversight of the service and who were passionate about delivering quality care and achieving the best possible outcomes for people.

At the time of the inspection, the location did not care or support for anyone with a learning disability or an autistic person. However, we assessed the care provision under Right Support, Right Care, Right Culture, as it is registered as a specialist service for this population group.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 1 May 2019) and there were breaches of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Guild Healthcare on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.