Background to this inspection
Updated
31 July 2021
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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
One inspector carried out this inspection.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
This inspection was announced. We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 11 May and ended on 15 June 2021. We visited the office location on 10 June 2021.
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. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke with four people who used the service and received feedback via email from five care staff. We spoke with the provider and registered manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of other records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
31 July 2021
About the service
The Studio is a domiciliary care service providing personal care to 14 people mostly aged 65 and over at the time of the inspection.
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
People told us they received good care and staff were kind and considerate. They also confirmed they felt safe with the care staff.
The provider had policies and procedures for dealing with safeguarding and whistle blowing concerns. Staff knew how to raise concerns and were confident to do so.
Care staff were consistent and reliable and new staff were recruited safely. People received their medicines when they were due and staff followed good IPC practices.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Staff were supported and accessed the training they needed. Staff supported people to have enough to eat and drink and to access health services when required.
People gave positive feedback about the service but knew how to complain if required.
People had detailed care plans which described how they wanted to be cared for. These were reviewed regularly to keep them up to date.
The provider prioritised people’s needs. There were opportunities for people, relatives and staff to provide feedback. The provider had improved the quality assurance processes to ensure they were more effective in identifying issues.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
This service has changed provider. This service was registered with us on 29 July 2020 and this is the first inspection. The last rating for the service under the previous provider was requires improvement published on 7 November 2018.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection to assess the standard of care delivered by the service and award a rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.