Archived: Positive Homecare

We undertook this focused inspection on 17 March 2017 to check that they had followed their plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. We found improvements had been made and the provider was now meeting all legal requirements.

This report only covers our findings in relation to those requirements. You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for Positive Home Care on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

This was an announced inspection. This means the provider was given notice due to it being a domiciliary care provider and we needed to ensure someone was available. The agency provides support and care for people living in their own homes. Some people were at risk of falls and had long term healthcare needs associated with living with dementia, others had sensory impairments.

Positive Health Care provides their services within an approximate 10 mile radius from their office in Fairlight. At the time of our inspection 22 people were using the service.

There was a registered manager in post at the time of the inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC to manage the service and has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law; as does the provider. The registered manager was also the provider.

The provider had established quality assurance systems which enabled them to have oversight of many areas of the service provided. These had been effective in most areas however we identified some improvements to the recording of staff training. The provider took immediate corrective action to ensure these shortfalls were addressed.

The provider completed a monthly managers audit which reviewed areas such as feedback from people and their relatives, accidents and incidents and tracked which staff had undergone supervision.

Following a previous recommendation from the CQC the provider spoke positively regarding their attendance at networking and care industry events which were aimed at providing updates and sharing good practice.

The provider had made provision for unseen events which may cause interruptions to the service by establishing contingency plans which included a ‘pool’ vehicle.

The inspection took place on 14 September 2016. This was an announced inspection. This means the provider was given notice of our inspection due to it being a domiciliary care provider and we needed to ensure someone was available. The agency provides support and care for people living in their own homes. Some people were at risk of falls and had long term healthcare needs associated with living with dementia, others had sensory impairments.

Positive Health Care provides their services within an approximate 10 mile radius from their office in Fairlight near Hastings. At the time of our inspection 23 people were using the service.

The provider was also the registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the CQC to manage the service and has the legal responsibility for meeting the requirements of the law; as does the provider.

Although people spoke positively of the service we found the provider had not fulfilled their legal obligation to notify the CQC of notifiable events at the service; such as safeguarding notifications. We also found some administrative documentation was not complete or up-to-date.

People and their relatives told us the service offered by Positive Home Care was safe; and they were supported by staff who knew them well and had the appropriate level of experience and knowledge to meet their needs. People were happy with the support they received with their medicines and there were systems in place to ensure people were supported safely. People were supported by sufficient numbers of staff. Robust recruitment and selection procedures had been established to ensure appropriate checks were completed before staff began work.

When people started using the service they underwent a pre-assessment which identified their care and support needs. Risk assessment was completed for areas where people could be at risk of harm, such as with their walking and medicines. People’s care needs were reviewed on a regular basis.

The provider and their staff were familiar with the requirements of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA) and where applicable care documentation reflected action had been taken and appropriate agencies involved where necessary.

Staff were responsive to people’s changing needs. People’s health and well-being was monitored and the provider regularly liaised with healthcare professionals for advice and guidance.

Staff told us they felt supported in their roles. A supervision and ‘spot check’ programme was in place which was used effectively to support them.

People told us they felt their care needs were met by friendly, reliable and caring staff. People had been consulted about their care and were clear how to raise concerns if they had any. The feedback we received about the provider was positive. Staff understood the importance of privacy, independence and choice.

The provider had established a quality assurance system which gave them oversight of most aspects of the service. The provider monthly report captured a range of information including late care calls, accidents and incidents and staff supervision.

We found a breach in Regulation. You can see what action we told the provider to take at the back of the full version of this report.