Archived: Professional Angels Limited

Updated 8 March 2017

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.

The inspection took place on 3 February 2017 and was conducted by one inspector. The inspection was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice of our inspection as we wanted to be sure that someone would be available.

Prior to the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service and we contacted a representative from the local authority safeguarding team.

We spoke with one person using the service and two relatives of people using the service. We spoke with three care workers after our visit over the telephone. During our visit we spoke with a senior member of staff as the registered manager was not available. We also looked at a sample of three people’s care records, five staff records and records related to the management of the service.

Updated 8 March 2017

We conducted an announced inspection of Professional Angels on 2 February 2017. We gave the provider 48 hours’ notice to ensure the key people we needed to speak with were available. At our last comprehensive inspection on 4 January 2016 we found two breaches of regulation in relation to consent and staffing. Following receipt of an action plan from the provider we returned to complete a focused inspection on 31 May 2016 and found that improvements had been made.

The service provides care and support to people living in their own homes. There were six people using the service when we visited.

There was a registered manager at the service. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.

Risk assessments and care plans contained detailed information for care staff. All records were reviewed within six months or sooner if people’s needs changed.

Medicines were accurately recorded when care workers administered these. Staff had completed medicines administration training and were clear about their responsibilities. They demonstrated a good understanding of which medicines people were taking and why. Care records contained instructions for care staff.

Safeguarding adults from abuse procedures were robust and staff understood how to safeguard people they supported. Staff had received safeguarding adults training and were able to explain the possible signs of abuse as well as the correct procedure to follow if they had concerns.

Staff demonstrated a good level of knowledge about their responsibilities under the Mental Capacity Act 2005. Care records contained details of people’s capacity and whether the person had appointed a Lasting Power of Attorney to make decisions on their behalf. Consent forms were signed to indicate that people consented to their care.

Staff demonstrated an understanding of people’s life histories and current circumstances and supported people to meet their individual needs in a caring way. Care records contained a good level of detail about people’s needs and preferences.

Recruitment procedures ensured that only staff who were suitable, worked within the service. There was an induction programme for new staff, which prepared them for their role.

Care workers were provided with appropriate training to help them carry out their duties. Care workers received regular supervision and appraisals of their performance. There were enough staff employed to meet people’s needs and visits were appropriately arranged to ensure people’s needs were met.

People were supported to maintain a balanced, nutritious diet where this formed part of their package of care. People’s care plans contained sufficient information for staff about how to meet people’s needs in relation to their health and nutrition.

The service was proactive in encouraging people to socialise and maintain their independence. Care records contained excellent details about people’s hobbies and interests and staff encouraged them to continue participating in these and try new activities they thought they would enjoy.

People using the service and staff gave positive feedback about the registered manager and told us they provided feedback about the service. They knew how to make complaints and told us they felt listened to and there was a complaints policy and procedure in place.

The organisation had effective systems in place to monitor the quality of the service. Audits were conducted of medicines and numerous other aspects of the service were monitored. Information was reported to the CQC as required.