Background to this inspection
Updated
31 March 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 was planned to check 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 in the 18 December 2014. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service for people in their own homes and staff might be out visiting people so we needed to be sure that they would be in. One inspector undertook the inspection. A second inspector carried out telephone interviews with staff. An expert by experience carried out interviews with people using the service and relatives. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service. The expert by experience had expertise in relation to the care of older people.
During our inspection we went to the office of the service and spoke to the registered manager and administration staff.
We reviewed the care records for eight people using the service, the employment folders for eight staff and records relating to the management of the service. After the inspection visit we undertook phone calls to three people using the service, two relatives and eight members of staff.
Updated
31 March 2015
We undertook an announced inspection of HomeAid Community Care Services Domiciliary Care Agency (DCA) on 18 December 2014. We told the provider two days before our visit that we would be coming because the location provides a domiciliary care service for people in their own homes and staff might be out visiting people.
At the time of our inspection 57 people were receiving a personal care service. People receiving care had purchased their care directly or their care was purchased by the local authority.
The service had a registered manager. 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
This was the first inspection since the service registered on 27 February 2014.
There was a process in place for the recording and investigation of incidents and accidents. Actions were identified following the investigation but it was not recorded if these had been completed. We have made a recommendation about the recording of actions following an incident or accident.
People we spoke with told us they felt safe when they received care from staff in their home. The provider had policies and procedures in place to respond to any concerns raised relating to the care provided.
Staff received training, supervision and support to ensure they were providing appropriate and effective care for people using the service.
We saw people’s care plans identified the person’s support needs and these plans were up to date. The care plans also identified the person’s specific wishes in relation to how they want their care provided.
Staff felt the service was well-led and they received the appropriate support to enable them to carry out their role.
We found breaches of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2010. This related to the staff induction, record keeping, Mental Capacity Act 2005 training, complaints procedures and the monitoring the quality of the service. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.