Archived: Suffolk Domiciliary Care

Updated 29 January 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 6 January 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 inspection was undertaken by one inspector.

We reviewed information we held about the service, such as notifications and information sent to us from other stakeholders for example the local authority and members of the public.

We spoke with eight people who used the service and the relatives/friends of five people on the telephone. Prior to our visit we received completed questionnaires from three people who used the service.

We spoke with the registered manager, the care manager, three care coordinators, who also undertook care worker duties when required, and one care worker. Prior to our visit we received 13 completed questionnaires from care workers. We looked at records in relation to 16 people’s care. We also looked at records relating to the management of the service, recruitment, training, and systems for monitoring the quality of the service.

Updated 29 January 2016

Suffolk Domiciliary Care provides personal care support to people living in their own homes. When we inspected on 6 January 2016 there were 64 people using the service. This was an announced inspection. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to know that someone would be available.

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 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

There were procedures and processes in place to ensure the safety of the people who used the service. All staff and care workers were provided with training and guidance in how to keep people safe and what they should do if they were concerned that a person was at risk or was being abused.

There were sufficient numbers of care workers who were trained and supported to meet the needs of the people who used the service.

Where people required assistance to take their medicines there were arrangements in place to provide this support safely.

Where people required assistance with their dietary needs there were systems in place to provide this support safely. Where care workers had identified concerns in people’s wellbeing there were systems in place to contact health and social care professionals to make sure they received appropriate care and treatment.

Care workers had good relationships with people who used the service. People’s consent was sought before they were provided with care and support.

People or their representatives, where appropriate, were involved in making decisions about their care and support. People received care and support which was planned and delivered to meet their specific needs.

A complaints procedure was in place. People’s concerns and complaints were listened to, addressed and used to improve the service.

The service had an open and empowering culture. Care workers understood their roles and responsibilities in providing safe and good quality care to the people who used the service. There was good leadership in the service. The service had a quality assurance system in place and as a result the quality of the service continued to improve.