Background to this inspection
Updated
13 January 2024
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
An inspector and Expert by Experience undertook the inspection. 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 homes.
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
This inspection was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection. Inspection activity started on 3 January 2024 and ended on 4 January 2024. We visited the location’s office on 4 January 2024.
What we did before the inspection
We checked the information we held about the service and sought feedback from 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 7 people and 6 relatives about their experiences of using the service. We also spoke with 8 staff members. These included, 6 care staff, the director and registered manager. We also asked for feedback via email from all of the staff team. We received 1 response. We checked a number of records. This included 5 care files, medicines records and associated documentation, 3 staff files, training records and records relating to the operation and management of the service.
Updated
13 January 2024
About the service
Spring Cottages Home Care Limited is a domiciliary care service providing personal care to older people, people living with a dementia or with a physical disability in their own homes. At the time of our inspection there were 53 people using the service.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Systems were in place to safeguard people and investigate allegations of abuse. Risks were assessed, management confirmed all people’s risk assessments would be checked to ensure they included detailed information about how to manage their needs. Staff were recruited safely, most staff confirmed they completed their choice of shift patterns. Staff told us there was sufficient staff in place.
Staff had undertaken training, supervisions and spot checks on staff performance was completed. People were happy with the skills of the staff team. Assessments of people’s needs had been undertaken, and were ongoing. People were supported with their meals when this was part of their care plan. Records included details of professionals.
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. Management confirmed they would take action to ensure all staff understood the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
All people, relatives and staff were complimentary about all of the management team. People’s views were sought and team meetings were taking place. A new electronic governance system was in place and being embedded. Audits and monitoring was completed. A range of policies, procedures and guidance was available to support the development and delivery of care of the staff team. Evidence of partnership working was noted.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the Care Quality Commission (CQC) website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 4 July 2023). The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
At our last inspection we recommended that the provider ensured systems were in place to support the management of medicines and, to ensure checks on staff skills and supervisions were in place. At this inspection we found they had made improvements.
Why we inspected
At our last inspection we identified breaches of regulation in relation to good governance. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve.
We undertook this focused inspection to check they had followed their action plan and to confirm they now met legal requirements. This report only covers our findings in relation to the key questions safe, effective and well-led which contain those requirements. For those key questions not inspected, we used the ratings awarded at the last inspection to calculate the overall rating. The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Spring Cottages Home Care Limited on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.