Archived: Local Care Force

Updated 3 September 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 8 August 2016 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service; we needed to be sure that someone would be in the office. One adult social care inspector carried out the inspection.

At the time of our inspection there was one person receiving the regulated activity of personal care from the service. As part of the inspection we spoke by telephone to this person and also spoke by telephone with two care staff. On the day of the inspection we spoke with the home care manager and the registered manager at the location office. The registered manager told us they did not intend to extend the service further at the present time. We spent time looking at documents and records related to people’s care and the management of the service. We looked in detail at the support plan and associated records of the person who currently used the service.

Before our inspection, we reviewed all the information we held about the service, including previous inspection reports and statutory notifications. 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 the service does well and improvements they plan to make.

We also contacted the local Healthwatch. Healthwatch feedback stated they had no comments or concerns. Healthwatch is an independent consumer champion that gathers and represents the views of the public about health and social care services in England.

Updated 3 September 2016

This was an announced inspection carried out on the 8 August 2016. At the last inspection in July 2013 we found the provider met the regulations we looked at.

Local Care Force provides services to meet the needs of individuals who live in their own homes and need support or 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.

The person currently using the service told us they were happy with the support they received from the service and were treated well. They told us they felt safe with the staff and the care they were provided with. Staff understood how to keep people safe and told us any potential risks were identified. We found there were systems in place to protect people from the risk of harm and appropriate recruitment procedures were in place.

The provider had policies and procedures relating to the safe administration of medication in people’s own home which gave guidance to staff on their roles and responsibilities. Nutritional and health care needs were met.

There were policies and procedures in place in relation to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and staff showed they understood how to ensure their practice was in line with the MCA.

Care and support was provided by appropriately trained staff. Staff received support to help them understand how to deliver good care.

Systems were in place to monitor the quality and safety of service provision and we found there were appropriate systems in place for the management of complaints.