Archived: Home Instead Care

Updated 10 August 2016

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 12 July 2016 and was announced. The provider was given notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service. We needed to be sure that the appropriate staff would be available in the office to assist with the inspection.

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

We looked at all the information we have collected about the service. This included notifications the registered manager had sent us. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to tell us about by law.

During the inspection visit we spoke with two staff members and the care manager, who was the senior staff member available on the day of the visit. After the day of the inspection we received written comments from a further four staff members. We contacted eight local authority and other professionals and received two responses. We spoke with three people who use the service and received written comments from a further person and three relatives (commenting on behalf of their family member).

We looked at a sample of records relating to individual’s care and the overall management of the service. These included six people’s care plans and daily notes, a further three care plans, a selection of policies and a sample of staff recruitment files and training records.

Updated 10 August 2016

This inspection took place on 12 July 2016 and was announced.

Home Instead Care is a domiciliary care service which offers support to people in their own homes. The service supports approximately 110 people with diverse needs who live in the community, predominantly in central Hampshire. Services offered include a wide variety of support packages and community projects. Approximately 58 people are supported with the regulated activity of personal care.

There is a registered manager running the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC 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 safety of people, staff and others was taken seriously. They were kept as safe as possible by staff who were appropriately trained and followed health and safety procedures. They knew how to recognise and deal with any form of abuse or risk of harm. Any significant risks were identified and managed to reduce them, as much as possible. The service operated with a robust recruitment procedure which checked that staff were safe and suitable to provide people with care. If people needed support to take their medicine, the service made sure care staff did this safely.

People’s right to make decisions and choices for themselves was upheld by staff. Care staff understood how important it was to people to give consent and direct their own life. People’s capacity to make decisions was recorded, if appropriate and necessary. Relevant paperwork was, generally, included in care plans. People’s rights were protected by staff who understood the Mental Capacity Act (2005). This legislation provides a legal framework that sets out how to act to support people who do not have capacity to make a specific decision

People were treated with the greatest respect and care, at all times. Staff understood how important it was to maintain people’s privacy and dignity and did so. Care staff made sure they provided people with care that met their individual needs, preferences and choices. People’s diversity was understood and people’s care reflected any special needs they may have had.

The service was well-led by a registered manager who had been in post for a number of years. The management team was described as open, approachable and very supportive by staff and people who use the service. The service thoroughly monitored and assessed the quality of care they offered. Any shortfalls or improvements needed were identified and acted upon, as far as possible. The service worked in the community to improve lifestyles for people use their service and those who may not.