The Daily Care Agency

Updated 9 March 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked 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 announced comprehensive inspection was carried out by one inspector on 23 January 2018. We gave the service notice of the inspection visit because we needed to be sure that someone would be available to support the inspection.

The inspection site visit activity started on 23 January 2018 and ended 24 January 2018. On the first day we visited the office location to see the provider and, with their permission, visited two people in their own homes. We reviewed four people’s care records, records relating to the management of the service, training records, and the recruitment records of three care workers. On the second day we spoke with one person who used the service on the telephone, two relatives and three staff members including a team leader and two care workers.

We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We also reviewed all other information sent to us from other stakeholders for example the local authority and members of the public. Prior to our inspection we contacted the local authority for feedback about the service. We received no information of concern.

Prior to our inspection we sent questionnaires to 13 people using the service, 13 to relatives, 12 to staff and two to community professionals. This was to gain feedback about the service provided. We received completed questionnaires from four people, two from relatives, six from staff and none from community professionals.

Updated 9 March 2018

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. At the time of this announced comprehensive inspection of 23 January 2018 there were 15 people who used the personal care service. We gave the service notice of our inspection to make sure that someone was available when we arrived.

The location of The Daily Care Agency had moved address and was registered in July 2017. This was their first inspection.

The service does not need to have a registered manager in post. This is because the service is owned by an individual person who also manages the service. 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 systems in place designed to keep people safe from harm and abuse. Where incidents occurred these were learned from and used to drive improvement in the service. There were infection control processes and procedures in place to reduce the risks of cross infection. Where people required assistance to take their medicines there were arrangements in place to provide this support safely. People told us that their care visits were never missed. There were safe recruitment systems in place.

People were cared for and supported by care workers who were trained and supported to meet their needs. Where required, people were provided with the support they needed to meet their dietary needs. People were supported to access health care professionals, where required, to maintain good health. The service worked with other professionals involved in people’s care to provide an effective and consistent service. The service was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005. People’s consent was sought before any care was provided.

People told us that their care workers were respectful and caring. Care records guided care workers in how people’s privacy, dignity and independence was promoted and respected. People were involved in making decisions about their care and support. People’s views and preferences were valued and listened to about how their care was planned for and delivered.

People received care and support which was assessed, planned and delivered to meet their specific needs. There was a complaints procedure in place and people knew how to raise a complaint about the service they were provided with.

There was an open and empowering culture in the service. People were asked for their views of the service and these were valued and acted on. There was a quality assurance system in place and shortfalls were addressed. As a result the quality of the service continued to improve.