Compassion First Care Ltd

Updated 17 December 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

Inspection team

This inspection team consisted of 1 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.

Service and service type

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats and specialist housing.

Registered Manager

This provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because the service is small and we wanted to be sure there the registered manager was available to speak with us.

Inspection activity started on 29 November 2022 and ended on 01 December 2022. We visited the location’s service on 01 December 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

During the inspection we spoke to 1 person who used the service and 6 relatives. We spoke with 4 staff members including the registered manager, senior care workers and care workers. We reviewed the records of 3 people who used the service and multiple medicine records. We also reviewed records relating to staff recruitment and training and the oversight of the service.

Updated 17 December 2022

About the service

Compassion First Care Ltd is a care at home service providing personal care to people within their own homes or flats. At the time of our inspection there were 15 people using the service. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

Quality assurance tools had not always identified areas of improvement required. Improvements were ongoing to the quality assurance processes as the registered manager had purchased a new auditing system. The registered manager had not notified CQC as required of all safeguarding referrals they had made.

People were supported by consistent staff who knew them well. People told us staff attended their care call in a timely way and people did not feel rushed. People received their medicines safely. People were supported by trained staff who understood the different types of abuse. People were supported by staff who understood infection control best practice.

People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported not them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice. People were supported to eat and drink safely. Staff were trained and people felt safe with staff. People were involved in their care planning and risk assessments.

People told us staff were kind and caring and knew their likes and dislikes. Staff promoted people’ s independence and respected their privacy and dignity.

People knew how to complain and felt able to raise concerns. People knew who the manager was and gave positive feedback about them. People had access to health and social care professionals. People were supported to communicate in a way which supported their understanding.

Staff understood and were meeting people's preferences. Staff had access to regular staff meetings and supervisions.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 05 August 2019) and there was a breach of regulation. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection the rating has improved to good.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service and information shared with us by the Local Authority. We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.

We have found evidence that the provider needs to make improvements. Please see the well led section of this full report.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.