Background to this inspection
Updated
21 February 2019
The inspection: 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.
A comprehensive inspection took place on 16 January 2019 and was announced.
Inspection team: One inspector carried out the inspection.
Service and service type: The service is a Domiciliary Care Agency, it provides support for older people who need assistance with their personal care who live on site in a sheltered housing complex.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. 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.
Notice of inspection: We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because it is small and the manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be in.
What we did:
Before the inspection: We reviewed information available to us about this service. We checked the information that we held about the service and the service provider. This included previous inspection reports and statutory notifications sent to us by the provider about incidents and events that had occurred at the service. A notification is information about important events, which the service is required to send to us by law. We used all this information to decide which areas to focus on during our inspection.
The registered provider had completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
During the inspection we looked at:
• Notifications we received from the service
• A person’s care record, risk assessments and medication administration record
• Records of accidents, incidents and complaints
• Audits and quality assurance reports
• Other documents relating to the management of the service.
During the inspection we spoke to:
• One person using the service
• Three members of staff
• A District Nurse visiting the service who knew the one person receiving the regulated activity, they gave us permission to quote them in this report.
After the inspection: We received feedback on the service from a relative by email, they gave us permission to quote them in this report.
Updated
21 February 2019
About the service:
The Abbeyfield Mid Sussex Domiciliary Care Agency provides support for older people who need assistance with their personal care. They support people who live on site in a sheltered housing complex. The housing complex adjoined a care home owned by the same provider. At the time of the inspection one person was receiving the regulated activity.
People’s experience of using this service:
People were provided with a care package that was centred on their needs, wishes and preferences. Care provided was responsive to people's changing needs and wishes. Care plans described the people's needs and preferences and staff were aware of the people's personal history and interests and relationships that mattered to them. People and their relatives were consulted about decisions and involved in planning their care.
People were involved in their care and support and were encouraged to be active in giving feedback about how the service was run. The service demonstrated good management and leadership and staff felt supported to raise any concerns they had.
We saw staff treating people with dignity, respecting their privacy and helping people to feel at ease with friendly banter and chatter.
People received safe care and treatment. Risks to people’s health and safety were appropriately assessed and mitigated. Guidance was provided to staff on how to manage people's risks.
People's medicines were managed safely by appropriately trained staff.
Staff had been trained to recognise the signs of potential abuse and knew what action to take if they suspected abuse was taking place. Safe recruitment practices checked that suitable staff were engaged to work in the care profession. There were sufficient staff employed to meet people’s needs. Staff were prompt in arriving at people's homes at the arranged time.
People's health needs were monitored well and staff were responsive in seeking treatment. A district nurse told us “Staff are very friendly, they are exceptional here, they take on any advice.”
Staff supported people to have ready access to food and drink.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives. Staff enabled people to be as independent as possible. People were encouraged and welcomed to participate in the activities, events and use the amenities in the provider's care home adjoining the sheltered living block.
Staff were skilled and knowledgeable. They had received training that equipped them to fulfil their role and there were opportunities for additional training specific to the needs of people who may use the service in the future.
This service met the characteristics of Good. More information is in the ‘Detailed Findings’ below.
Rating at the last inspection: Good. The last inspection report was published on 30 June 2016.
Why we inspected: This was a planned comprehensive inspection that was scheduled to take place in line with Care Quality Commission (CQC) scheduling guidelines for adult social care services.
Follow up: We will review the service in line with our methodology for 'Good' services.