Archived: 1 Diamond Home Care Ltd

We carried out the inspection because we had received information that said staff providing personal care to people had not had the required pre-employment checks completed. These included Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) checks and references. We were also told staff had not received the relevant training to carry out their role.

Our last inspection of 1 Diamond Home Care Ltd was on the 25 June 2018. This inspection was the first inspection since they re-registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in May 2017. Prior to this they were registered at another location. At the previous location when we inspected the service we rated it inadequate and took enforcement action. This resulted in time limited conditions being applied to the registration to restrict admissions. The registered provider was also required to seek our approval prior to offering people a care package.

Up until May 2018 the service remained dormant, which meant they were not providing any care or support to people. During dormancy the registered provider recruited an external consultant to put in place a range of new policies and procedures and introduce management systems. The previous registered manager was also employed as the quality assurance officer whose role was to identify and make the necessary improvements so that people would receive good quality care that met their needs. This was to ensure the service would be operationally ready to commence providing an improved service.

At this inspection we inspected the service against two of the five questions we ask about services: is the service safe and is the service well led. As we had recently inspected the service we only looked at the elements of these questions relating to the concerns raised.

At our inspection on 25 June 2018 we rated the service overall ‘good’ with the ‘well led’ domain rated as ‘requires improvement.’ This was because the service had only been operating for a short time it was not possible to fully assess if the systems in place to learn, improve and ensure sustainability were fully effective. Information seen on the day of the inspection showed there were governance and accountability arrangements in place and staff were keen to learn and improve. However, as the service grows these systems needed to be well embedded into the running of the service so that they captured and managed organisational issues and risks. The registered provider told us they planned to increase the business slowly and safely so the systems in place could be monitored and where necessary reviewed in a timely manner.

At this inspection the rating for the service continues to be rated ‘Good’ and we found no evidence to collaborate the concerns raised with us. The registered provider had a policy and procedure for the safe recruitment of staff. We looked at six staff files and found checks had been carried out, prior to people being offered posts. Staff had completed a programme of training and were trained to care and support people who used the service safely.

We saw evidence that the registered provider had improved auditing and monitoring systems. For example, a computer system was in place to record and update many aspects of the service for example, staff training, staff rotas and quality assurance checks.

The service did not have a registered manager. 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 provider told us following our last inspection they had interviewed and recruited a manager. However, due to unforeseen circumstances the applicant had been unable to commence work. The registered provider had arranged to interview another applicant on 17 August 2018

You can read the report from our last inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for ‘1 Diamond Home Care Ltd’ on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.

This was 1 Diamond Home Care Ltd.'s first inspection since they re-registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in May 2017. Prior to this they were registered at another location. At the previous location when we inspected the service we rated it inadequate and took enforcement action. This resulted in time limited conditions being applied to the registration to restrict admissions. The registered provider was also required to seek our approval prior to offering people a care package. Up until May 2018 the service remained dormant, which meant they were not providing any care or support to people. During dormancy the registered provider recruited an external consultant to put in place a range of new policies and procedures and introduce management systems. This was to ensure the service would be operationally ready to commence providing an improved services.

The service did not have a registered manager. 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 provider told us they were interviewing for the post of registered manager on 5 July 2018. The previous registered manager was also employed as the quality assurance officer whose role was to identify and make the necessary improvements so that people would receive good quality care that met their needs.

People told us they felt safe with staff and would be confident to raise any concerns they had. The registered provider's recruitment procedures were thorough which helped to keep people safe. There were sufficient staff to provide safe, effective care at the times agreed by people who used the service.

Staff were trained in the safe administration of medicines and medicines were managed in line with guidance.

There were procedures in place to manage risks to people and staff. Staff were aware of how to deal with emergency situations and knew how to keep people safe by reporting concerns promptly to their manager and the safeguarding authority.

Staff received an induction and spent time working with experienced members of staff before working alone with people. The induction process corresponded with the 15 standards that health and social care workers need to complete during their induction period. Staff were supported to receive the training and development they needed to care for and support people's individual needs.

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 were treated with kindness and respect and encouraged and supported to maintain their independence.

People were involved in formulating and reviewing their care plan. Care plans described the support the person needed to manage their day to day care and health needs.

Quality assurance checks were completed by the management team and staff to help ensure the care provided was of good quality.

The registered provider sought people who used the service, relatives and staff's feedback and welcomed their suggestions for improvement.

As the service had only been operating for a short time it was not possible to fully assess if the systems in place to learn, improve and ensure sustainability were fully effective. Information seen on the day of the inspection showed there were governance and accountability arrangements in place and staff were keen to learn and improve. However, as the service grows these systems need to be well embedded into the running of the service so that they capture and manage organisational issues and risks. The registered provider told us they planned to increase the business slowly and safely so the systems in place could be monitored and where necessary reviewed in a timely manner.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.