Updated 18 October 2019
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was undertaken by one inspector 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.
services
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.
Inspection activity started on 09 September and ended on 23 September. We visited the office location on 10 and 11 September to review records, meet with the providers and provide feedback.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection and the statutory notifications received. We sought feedback from professionals who work with the service and received no responses. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with nine people who used the service and one relative by telephone about their experience of the care provided. We met and spoke with six members of staff. These included the nominated individual, registered manager, deputy manager, co-ordinator and two care workers. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.
We visited three people in their own homes.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We contacted the remaining six care staff but received no responses.
We received information from the service to confirm the safeguarding policy and procedure had been updated.