Archived: QCarers (UK)

QCarers(UK) is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. QCarers(UK) is registered to provide a service to younger adults and older people living with dementia, mental health needs or physical disabilities. The service had supported five people since initial registration in December 2017. One person was using the service at the time of this inspection.

Not everyone using domiciliary care services receive regulated activities; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.

The service had 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.

There was a range of routine checks undertaken by the management team however, these were not always effective in identifying shortfalls. Some improvements were needed in respect of record keeping. The management team were passionate about providing good care and support and demonstrated an in-depth knowledge of the staff they employed and people who used the service. The management team met at least monthly to review strategic and operational needs, incidents, accidents, complaints and for general strategic and operational oversight of the service and priorities for the organisation.

Staff had been trained in how to safeguard people from avoidable harm and were knowledgeable about the potential risks and signs of abuse. Risks to people’s safety and wellbeing were assessed and managed in the least restrictive way possible. Enough staff were available to meet people’s needs. People's medicines were safely managed. Staff had received training in infection control practices and personal protective equipment such as gloves and aprons was provided for them. The management and staff team used incidents as a learning tool to help further ensure people’s safety and wellbeing.

Staff received training and supervision to enable them to meet people’s care and support needs. The service worked within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA). Staff and management team liaised with social care commissioners and appointed next-of-kin where people were not able to give consent. People were supported to eat and drink sufficient amounts to maintain their health and wellbeing. The staff and management team worked in partnership with external professionals and families to help ensure the individuals needs were identified and met.

People had a small team of staff who supported them which helped to ensure continuity and enabled people to form bonds with the staff. Each person was treated as an individual and their needs and wants were managed on an individual basis. Staff had developed positive and caring relationships with people they clearly knew well. Staff understood the importance of promoting people’s independence. People's care records were stored securely to help maintain their dignity and confidentiality.

People and their relatives had been involved in developing care plans that addressed all areas of people’s lives. Staff were matched as far as possible with the people they supported in terms of gender, interests and skills. Staff accompanied people into the community to undertake activities of their choice. Concerns and complaints raised by people who used the service or their relatives were appropriately investigated and resolved.