Archived: Wakefield

Updated 25 October 2022

The inspection

We carried out this performance review and assessment under Section 46 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act). We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements of the regulations associated with the Act and looked at the quality of the service to provide a rating.

Unlike our standard approach to assessing performance, we did not physically visit the office of the location. This is a new approach we have introduced to reviewing and assessing performance of some care at home providers. Instead of visiting the office location we use technology such as electronic file sharing and video or phone calls to engage with people using the service and staff.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector.

Service and service type

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

Registered Manager

This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.

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

Notice of inspection

We gave the service 48 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 20 September 2022 and ended on 30 September 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. The provider did not complete the required Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about the service, what it does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

This performance review and assessment was carried out without a visit to the location’s office. We used technology such as video calls to enable us to engage with people using the service and staff, and electronic file sharing to enable us to review documentation.

We spoke with two people and two relatives, four staff including the registered manager, and care workers. The registered manager was also the nominated individual. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We reviewed two people’s care plans and documents relating to the management of the service.

Updated 25 October 2022

About the service

Wakefield is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to people living in their own homes. The service is known locally as Victoria Homecare. At the time of our inspection there were five 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

The provider had systems in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse. Staff received training in safeguarding and knew what action to take if they suspected abuse. Staff were recruited safely, and pre-employment checks were carried out. Staff had access to appropriate PPE and the provider was mindful about infection control. Accidents and incidents were recorded, action taken to mitigate future incidents, and risks associated with people’s care were identified and managed safely.

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. The provider ensured staff received appropriate training. Staff felt supported by the management team. Staff worked alongside other professionals to ensure people received timely and appropriate care and support.

People and their relatives told us staff were kind and caring and supported them or their family member in a person-centred way.

Care plans offered staff guidance about how to support people. Staff knew people well and assisted people to maintain their independence. People felt able to raise concerns if they needed to and were confident the provider would take appropriate actions to address them.

The provider had effective systems in place to monitor the quality of the service. This process helped identify issues and action plans were used to ensure issues were addressed in a timely way. People we spoke with felt involved in the service and relatives felt they were communicated with well.

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 was registered with us on 30 November 2020 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was the first rated inspection of a newly registered service.

Follow up

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