Archived: Community Home Care Provider

Updated 11 August 2017

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 was a comprehensive inspection, which took place because we carry out inspections of services rated ‘good’ every two years. The inspection took place on 22 May 2017 and was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice of the inspection as we needed to be sure managers would be available for us to speak with on the day of the inspection; Otherwise managers can sometimes be out supporting people in the community. The inspection was completed by one inspector.

Before the inspection we reviewed all the information we had received about the service. This included statutory notifications which the provider is required to send us about significant events and incidents that occur within the service.

During the inspection we met with the registered manager and other office staff. We reviewed the care plans of five people who used the service, five staff files and information about the running of the service.

After the inspection we spoke on the telephone to five people or their relatives about the service provided by Community Home Care Providers and two care workers. We also had contact with a local authority quality assurance team.

Updated 11 August 2017

Community Home Care Providers is a domiciliary care agency that provides personal care and support to people in their own homes. At the time of our inspection they were providing a service to 37 people in the community mainly from the London Boroughs of Merton and Sutton.

We last carried out a comprehensive inspection of this service in April 2015 and gave them a rating of ‘Good’ across the five outcome areas. At this inspection we continued to rate them as ‘Good’ across four outcome areas and ‘Requires Improvement’ for the outcome area of ‘Safe’.

This is because the provider had not kept up to date with current guidelines and practice regarding the recording of the administration of medicines. This meant there was a possibility care workers may not be able to account for all the medicines given to people as they did not keep an accurate record of the medicines they supported people with. Therefore there was a risk people may not receive all the medicines prescribed to them.

Notwithstanding the above, people continued to receive a safe service from Community Home Care Providers. Care workers were trained in safeguarding adults at risk and knew what action they should take if they had concerns about any individual. The provider also completed pre-employment checks to ensure as far as possible only suitable people were employed by the agency.

The service continued to have 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.

The registered manager was aware of their responsibilities with regard to notifying other agencies of significant events which may affect the well-being of people. The service was open and transparent and people told us they felt able to raise any issues or concerns. There was a complaints policy in place which was readily available, if people had any issues to raise with the provider.

The provider had a number of audits and mechanisms in place to continually review the quality of the service. This included quarterly spot checks on care workers and annual questionnaires which helped to identify areas of improvement.

Care workers were supported to undertake their roles. This included an induction period and training which was refreshed regularly. Care workers were also supported with one to one supervision sessions and weekly team meetings to ensure they remained suitable and competent to undertake their work.

People received personalised care that met their needs. People needs were assessed and recorded so care workers were clear about how to support people effectively and safely. These care plans were reviewed regularly and whenever there was a change in people’s circumstances.

The provider planned care so people often had the same care worker. This continuity was welcomed by people who felt comfortable with care workers who understood their needs and routines. This also meant workers were alert to changes in people’s health and could liaise with healthcare professionals accordingly.

People told us the care they received ensured their privacy and dignity. Consent was sought prior to care being provided and people were encouraged to maintain their independence whenever possible. People were given choices about how care was to be provided, this included what to eat and drink. If risks to people’s health were identified, then action was taken to minimise and mitigate adverse effects on people.