Background to this inspection
Updated
21 July 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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
This 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 homes.
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 no registered manager in post, however there was a manager in post and they had applied to CQC to become the registered manager.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we wanted to be sure the manager would be available to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 23 June 2022 and ended on 30 June 2022. We visited the location on 23 June 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 other professionals who work with the service.
We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We met with four people in their apartments and a further four people in communal areas of the complex and spoke with them about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff, the manager and regional manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment, supervision and training and 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, quality assurance records and other records relating to the running of the service.
Updated
21 July 2022
About the service
This service provides care to people living in specialist ‘extra care’ housing. Extra care housing is purpose-built or adapted single household accommodation in a shared site or building. The accommodation is rented and is the occupant’s own home. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for extra care housing; this inspection looked at people’s personal care service. The service provided personal care to 43 people at the time of the inspection.
People’s experience of using this service
People told us they trusted staff and felt safe with them. Staff received safeguarding training and knew the signs and symptoms of potential abuse and the procedures for reporting any actual or suspected abuse.
Safe recruitment processes were followed to make sure staff were fit and suitable for the role. The required pre-employment checks were carried out including a check on applicant’s criminal background. People received safe care and support from the right amount of suitably skilled and experienced staff.
Safe infection prevention and control (IPC) measures were followed to minimise the risk of the spread of infections, including those related to COVID-19.
Medicines were managed safely. Staff with responsibilities for handling and administering medicines were trained and competent. Care plans and medication administration records (MARs) guided staff on any support people needed to take their medicines safely.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and promoted their independence. People were involved in developing and reviewing their care plans.
Staff were inducted into their roles and received ongoing training relevant to their role. Staff were supported through regular supervisions and team meetings.
Staff knew people well and were respectful of their privacy, dignity and independence. People complimented staff on their attitude and approach describing them as; ‘Marvellous’ ‘Out of this world’ and ‘Kind and caring.’
The service complied with the Accessible Information Standards. People’s communication needs were assessed and set out in their care plans. Information was provided in a way people could understand.
People’s care and support was planned in a personalised way. Care plans took account of people’s choices and preferences and regular care reviews gave people the opportunity to discuss their care and make any changes to their care plans should they wish to. Complaints were responded to and used to improve the quality of care people received.
Managers promoted a positive and open culture. There were effective systems to monitor the quality and safety of the service. People were provided with opportunities to feedback on the service they received, and any suggestions for improvement were listened to and acted upon. There was good partnership working with others to ensure the best possible outcomes for people.
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on 01 April 2021 and this is the first inspection of this new provider.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor intelligence we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If any concerning information is received, we may inspect sooner.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk