Archived: Carers Relief Service

Updated 17 October 2018

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 on 19 July 2018 and was announced. 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. The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

We used information we held about the service and the provider to assist us to plan the inspection. This included notifications the provider had sent to us about significant events at the service. We also used information the provider sent us in the 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.

One person and their carer/relative gave us their feedback about the service. We spoke with the registered manager and two members of staff gave us their views about the service.

We looked at risk and quality audit records, policies and procedures, complaint and incident and accident monitoring systems. We looked at a person’s care files, one staff recruitment file, the staff training programme and medicine records.

Updated 17 October 2018

The inspection took place on 19 July 2018. The inspection was announced.

This service is a domiciliary care agency. The Carers Relief Service is a care agency that provides care services to people in their own homes. Not everyone using the service receives a regulated activity of 'personal care.' CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’. At the time of inspection, one person was receiving personal care at home.

At our last inspection on 09 February 2016, we rated the service Good. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of Good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

At this inspection we found the service remained Good.

Carers Relief Service is a registered charity managed by a trustee committee of carers, professionals and volunteers. The service currently operates in the Medway, Swale and Maidstone areas. The care was delivered to give relatives and carers respite. The registered manager had managed the service since 2001 and the service had consistently met the fundamental standards and regulations.

People continued to be supported to make their own decisions about their care or had a family member who helped them.

People are supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff support them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service support this practice.

People consented to their care. Staff were caring and compassionate. Staff were trusted and respected people's privacy and dignity.

Risks associated with people's care and support were managed safely. Staff followed infection control guidance to minimise cross infection risks. Suitable arrangements were in place in relation to the safe administration and recording of medicines.

The provider's policies, staff training and staff work practices were designed to keep people safe from abuse or harm.

Experienced and skilled staff were deployed in response to people’s assessed needs and choices. Staff performance and development continued to be supported through supervision meetings which took place on a regular basis.

People's care plans continued to contain enough information about their personal preferences and focussed on individual needs.

People's feedback was sought and used to improve the care provided. There was a complaints policy in place and people or their relatives knew how to make a complaint.

The registered manager consistently worked with other organisations to design and deliver appropriate care.

The provider had a set of values the staff understood and included protecting people's human rights. The registered manager regularly assessed and monitored the quality of care to ensure standards were met and maintained.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.