Archived: Brooker Care Limited

Updated 19 June 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.

The inspection took place on the 22 May 2018 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service. We wanted to be sure that someone would be in to speak with us.

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

Before the inspection the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what they do well and improvements they plan to make. We looked at this and other information we held about the service. This included notifications. Notifications are changes, events or incidents that the service must inform us about.

During our inspection we spoke with five people and eleven relatives over the telephone. Four care staff, an administrator, registered manager and the provider. We observed the staff working in the office dealing with issues and speaking with people over the telephone.

We reviewed a range of records about people’s care and how the service was managed. These included the care records for five people, medicine administration record (MAR) sheets, four staff training, support and employment records, quality assurance audits, incident reports and records relating to the management of the service.

The service was last inspected on the 23 May 2016 and was awarded the rating of Good. At this inspection the service remains Good.

Updated 19 June 2018

The inspection took place on the 22 May 2018 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a care at home service. We wanted to be sure that someone would be in to speak with us.

Brooker Care Limited is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community and provides a service to adults. On the day of the inspection the service was supporting thirty eight people with a range of health and social care needs, such as people with a physical disability, sensory impairment or people living with dementia. Support was tailored according to people’s assessed needs within the context of people’s individual preferences and lifestyles to help people to live and maintain independent lives.

At the last inspection on 23 May 2016, the service was rated as good in the areas of Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well-led. At this inspection we found the evidence continued to support the overall 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.

People told us that they felt safe. Staff remained to have a good understanding of their roles and responsibilities for identifying and reporting allegations of abuse and knew how to access policies and procedures regarding protecting people from abuse. Risks to people were assessed and monitored during their stay and communicated with other healthcare professionals involved in their care.

People remained were able to make choices about their support provided to them and were able to maintain their independence. People and were provided with information and guidance to access other services which were relevant to them for any on-going support they may need.

The service had experienced staff to ensure people were safe and cared for on visits. Sufficient numbers of staff were employed to ensure visits were covered and to keep people safe. Staffing levels were determined by the number of people using the service and their needs.

Staff considered peoples capacity using the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) as guidance. People’s capacity to make decisions had been assessed. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.

People’s individual needs continued to be assessed and detailed care plans were developed to identify what care and support they required. People were consulted about their care to ensure wishes and preferences were met. The provider had arrangements in place for the safe administration of medicines. People were supported to receive their medicine when they needed it.

People’s individuality was respected and people’s preferences were taken into account when planning their care such as religion. There was an accessible complaints process in place which people knew how to use if they needed to.

Staff continued to receive regular training and updates to be able to have the right skills and knowledge to be able to meet people’s assessed needs. Staff had regular spot checks, supervisions and appraisals to help them to understand their roles and responsibilities.

Staff received infection control training and used Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when supporting people with personal care tasks.

Quality assurance and information governance systems remained in place to monitor the quality and safety of the service. People and relatives all told us that they were happy with the service provided and the way it was managed.

Further information is in the detailed findings below