Archived: Kincare

Updated 27 November 2015

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection took place on 6 October 2015 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours' notice as it is a domiciliary service and we needed to be sure people would be available.

The inspection team consisted of two adult social care inspectors and an expert by experience. An expert by experience has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Before our inspection we reviewed all the information we held about the domiciliary care agency.

During the inspection we spoke with four staff members and the registered manager. The expert by experience spoke with seven people and three relatives. We contacted the local authorities who purchased the care on behalf of people. We asked them for information about the service and reviewed the information received. We looked at records in relation to six people's care to see how their care was planned and delivered. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service including staff training, recruitment and quality assurance records.

Updated 27 November 2015

This inspection took place on 6 October 2015 and was announced. Kincare is a domiciliary care agency registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes. At the time of inspection the service was offered to 34 people.

At the last inspection on 25 and 28 November 2014, we had told the provider to take action to make improvements to requirements relating to workers. This action had been completed.

There was a registered manager in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People told us they felt safe. Safeguarding procedures were in place and staff knew how to respond to allegations of abuse.Care workers had a good knowledge and understanding of safeguarding and whistleblowing policies.

Staff felt they were adequately trained and were encouraged to look for ways to improve their work. They believed the recent change in management improved the overall quality of service. They spoke highly of the service, the registered manager and the people they worked with.

People's safety was promoted as risks that may cause harm in their home and local community had been identified and managed. Appropriate risk assessments were in place to keep people safe.

The service carried out assessments of people's needs before providing care to ensure their needs could be met. Care plans were in place and detailed people's support needs. Staff understood those needs.

People were supported by care workers to make their own decisions. People told us that their care was provided to a good standard. People were encouraged and supported by members of staff to make choices about their care.

Staff sought people's consent before carrying out care, treatment and support. People told us they were treated with consideration and respect. Staff we spoke with understood the need to protect people's privacy and dignity. There were many positive comments from people about staff. People's views showed that staff understood the importance of their role in supporting people and maintaining their independence and dignity.

People were protected from unsafe administration of their medicines because care workers were trained to administer medicines safely. All members of staff completed mandatory training to ensure they were competent to administer, store and dispose of medicines correctly.

People knew how to complain and told us they were happy to do so if this was necessary. Both people and care workers were encouraged to provide feedback on the quality of the service.

The provider had quality assurance systems in place to monitor the care and support people received. Systems were effective in identifying errors. Once identified, a senior staff member would investigate and resolve the concerns to people's satisfaction.

The registered manager was seen as a good leader, both by staff and by people using the service. The registered manager was trusted and had created a strong sense of commitment to meeting people's diverse needs and supporting staff.