Background to this inspection
Updated
5 May 2015
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 provider was given 24 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and this is in line with our current methodology.
The inspection team consisted of a lead 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 service.
Before our inspection we looked at the provider’s information return (PIR). This is information we asked the provider to send us about how they have met the requirements of the five key questions. We also reviewed other information we held about the service including statutory notifications that had been submitted. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.
During the inspection we spoke with 15 people who used the service or their relatives. We also spoke with the registered manager, the director of the service and three care workers. We spoke with a district nurse and a person who worked for the local health service dementia intensive support team.
We inspected three care plans belonging to people who used the service. We also looked at other records relating to the management of the service including records of staff induction, training and supervision, safety and quality audits and records related to the overall management of the service.
Updated
5 May 2015
This inspection took place on 13 January 2015. The service received 24 hours notice of our intention to inspect the service. This is in line with our current methodology for inspecting domiciliary care agencies.
The service provides care and support to people in their own home. On the day of our inspection 29 people were being supported.
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.
Everybody we spoke with was positive about the care provided. People who used the service spoke highly of the care provided by staff and the management. People were particularly complimentary about the way new care staff were introduced to them before they began providing care.
People were supported by a small number of consistent staff who were familiar with their individual needs and preferences. There were enough properly trained and well supported staff to effectively meet people’s care and support needs. Staff knew people well which meant they could identify any changes in a person’s health or support needs.
People were encouraged to express their views about the way their care was delivered. This included face to face meetings with the management team, by telephone or in a written survey. They told us that they were confident that any issues they raised would be effectively addressed.
The service worked closely with local specialist support services to ensure people received the most effective care. They responded promptly to changes in people’s care needs to ensure appropriate support was provided.
The service had a clear management structure. People who received services, relatives and staff felt comfortable about sharing their views and talking to the registered manager or director if they had any concerns or ideas to improve the service provided. Staff demonstrated a good understanding of their role.