Qualis Home Care

Updated 11 July 2023

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 an 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 care service.

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 provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.

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.

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. 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 3 people and 9 relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 7 members of staff including the nominated individual, the registered manager, care coordinator and care staff. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider. We reviewed a range of records. This included 6 people's care plans and medicines records for people supported with their medicines. We looked at recruitment checks and training records for 3 staff members. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and quality assurance records were also reviewed.

Updated 11 July 2023

About the service

Qualis Home Care is a homecare agency providing personal care to people who live in their own houses and flats. The service provides support to people who live with physical and health related support needs, some of whom also live with dementia. At the time of our inspection there were 20 people using the service.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People told us they felt safe with staff and received care and support which promoted their independence and helped them to keep safe and well. Staff were safely recruited, trained and competent and attended care visits as planned.

People were safely supported with their medicines, to eat and drink well and to access healthcare services when needed. Staff spent time with people chatting and doing what they liked. People and their relatives told us they felt respected and valued. Staff felt listened to and supported by the management.

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.

People received personalised care which met their needs, preferences and wishes. The provider was aware of their responsibilities and created a positive and supportive culture in the service. There was open and continuous communication between management, staff, people and their representatives.

The management team carried out a range of checks and audits around the quality and safety of the service. Improvements were made, for example around personalisation of people’s care, people’s care records and communication between the service and people’s representatives. Managers also provided care to people and visited them regularly to gather their feedback.

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 09 March 2022 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This inspection was carried out due to the length of time since the service was registered and started supporting people with personal care.

Follow up

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