StellarCare NW HQ

Updated 31 May 2022

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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

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

This inspection was unannounced.

Inspection activity started on 13 May 2022 and ended on 19 May 2022. We visited the location’s office 13 and 17 May 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with one person that used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of office and support staff as well as the manager and provider (Owner).

We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records. We looked at seven staff files in relation to recruitment. A variety of 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. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 31 May 2022

About the service

StellarCare NW HQ is a nurse led domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care and support to people living in their own homes within the areas of Ellesmere Port and Cheshire. StellarCare offers a variety of services, including assistance with personal care, meal preparation, companionship, medicines management and domestics tasks. At the time of our inspection 22 people were using the service.

The provider is registered for the treatment of disease, disorder or injury (TDDI). They were not supporting anyone under TDDI at the time of the inspection.

Not everyone who used the service received personal care. The Care Quality Commission (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

Staff were recruited safely, and staffing levels were sufficient to meet the needs of the people using the service. There was a thorough induction programme and staff training included e-learning and classroom sessions. People said staff were kind and caring.

People were protected from the risk of abuse. Safeguarding policies and procedures were in place. Staff had received training and understood how to keep people safe and who to report to if they had any concerns.

People’s care plans and risk assessments were detailed and reviewed regularly. They reflected people’s individual needs and preferences. People who used the service told us they felt well cared for.

Staff supported people to take their medicines safely. Staff were trained and had their competency assessed in medicines management and knew how to ensure people received their prescribed medicines on time.

People were treated well and told us their privacy and dignity was respected.

The provider had quality assurance systems in place that included audits, analysis and spot checks that were used to drive improvements. There was a complaints procedure in place that people and their relatives were aware of. People told us they felt confident to raise any concerns and complaints they had.

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.

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 11 February 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.

Follow up

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