The Care Quality Commission
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Archived: Heritage Homecare Heywood

Overall: Inadequate read more about inspection ratings

Independence House, Adelaide Street, Heywood, Lancashire, OL10 4HF (01706) 629774

Provided and run by:
Heritage Homecare Services Ltd

All Inspections

14 December 2015

During an inspection looking at part of the service

This inspection was a follow up inspection where breaches had been identified and in response to concerns received. At this inspection the service was providing care and support for 52 people living in their own homes. The provider had two other locations also providing care in people’s own homes at Lancaster and Nelson. The service provided care and support for older persons , dementia care, end of life care, long term conditions, respite care and night care.

There was 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People and staff gave a mixed view about the service. Overall relatives appreciated individual staff but told us that the service was not well managed and their relatives were not always safely cared for. Some staff thought they were well supported I their role whilst others told is they had not received sufficient training, instructions as to care for people or support in their role .

There were safeguarding policies and procedures in place. However these were not being implemented and safeguarding concerns were not recognised or addressed. The service was requested to make five safeguarding concerns with the Local Authority that were identified at the inspection but had previously not be recognised by the service. Safeguarding concerns were not always notified to CQC as required.

We checked medicines management. We found that clear and accurate records were not being kept of medicines administered by care workers. Care plans and risk assessments did not support the safe handling of some people’s medicines. The service had failed to recognise and address risks to people they were supporting placing them at risk of harm. Were incidents had occurred no action had been taken to prevent these from reoccurring.

We checked how the service followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA)

The MCA governs decision-making on behalf of adults who may not be able to make particular decisions. The requirements of the MCA were not being followed.

There were no systems in place to monitor any aspects of the quality of the service or to improve failing areas. Issue identified at previous inspections had not been addressed. As a result people were at risk of not having their health and welfare needs met.

Overall we found significant concerns as how the service was meeting the regulations. We are considering what further actions may be required and we will report on any actions once completed.

13 and 17 August 2015

During a routine inspection

This was an announced inspection, which took place on the 13 and 17 August 2015. Notice of the inspection was given to make sure that the relevant staff and people we needed to speak with were available.

This was the first inspection since the service was registered. The service provides personal care and support for 90 people living in their own homes. The provider had two other locations also providing care in people’s own homes at Lancaster and Nelson. The service provided care and support for older people, people living with dementia, end of life care, long term conditions, respite care and night care.

There was 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 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

We checked medicines management. We found that clear and accurate records were not being kept of medicines administered by care workers. Details of the strengths and dosages of some medicines were not accurately recorded. Care plans and risk assessments did not support the safe handling of some people’s medicines. This breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 is being followed up and we will report on any action when it is complete.

We checked how the service followed the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). The MCA governs decision-making on behalf of adults who may not be able to make particular decisions for themselves. The requirements of the MCA were not being followed. This breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 is being followed up and we will report on any action when it is complete.

There were no systems in place to monitor all aspects of the service. By the second day of our inspection the registered manager had started to put in place systems to assess, monitor and improve the quality of the service. These had not yet been fully implemented. This breach of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 is being followed up and we will report on any action when it is complete.

There were safeguarding policies and procedures in place. Staff were knowledgeable about what actions they would take if abuse was suspected.

Safe recruitment procedures were followed and staff said that they undertook an induction programme which included shadowing an experienced member of staff. Staff were appropriately trained and told us they had completed training in safe working practices and were trained to meet the specific needs of people who used the service such as dementia care

People received food and drink which met their nutritional needs and they could access appropriate health, social and medical support, as soon as it was needed.

People and relatives were extremely complimentary about the caring nature of staff. Staff were knowledgeable about people’s needs and we were told that care was provided with patience and kindness. People’s privacy and dignity was respected.