Background to this inspection
Updated
15 September 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 Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
This inspection was carried out by 1 inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary service. It provides personal care for 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 (CQC) 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. The service was given 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 6 August 2023 and ended on 6 September 2023. We visited the provider’s office on 9 August 2023.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed all the information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used all this information to plan our inspection. The provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
During the inspection
We spoke in person with the registered manager. We contacted 10 people using the service or their relatives, 16 staff and 8 healthcare professionals to get their experience and views about the care provided. We reviewed a range of records. This included 4 people’s care and risk assessment records. We looked at 6 staff files in relation to recruitment, training and staff supervision. We checked a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits, policies and procedures. We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We requested additional evidence to be sent to us after our inspection. This included special initiatives unique to the provider, training matrix and audits. We received the information which was used as part of our inspection.
Updated
15 September 2023
About the service
KITE – Keep Independent Through Enablement provides short term assessment and enablement services to people in their own homes to help them be as independent as possible. The service is for people who have been discharged from hospital or whose health has deteriorated.
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. At the time of the inspection 39 people using the service were receiving personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
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 a safe service and suitable numbers of appropriately recruited staff were employed to meet their needs. This meant people were supported to live safely. The registered manager and staff assessed, monitored, and recorded any risks to people, as required. Accidents, incidents, and safeguarding concerns were reported, investigated and recorded appropriately. Staff were trained to prompt and support people to take their medicines, if required. Infection control procedures were followed.
The provider had a culture that was open, responsive, positive and the management structure was clearly set out. The provider’s vision and values were easy to understand, and staff understood and followed them and were aware of their responsibilities and accountability. Staff were prepared to raise concerns they may have with the provider and take responsibility for their own conduct. The quality of the service was regularly reviewed, and any required changes were made to improve the care and support people received. This was conducted in a way that best suited people. The provider had established effective professional working relationships that promoted the needs of people outside its remit. Registration requirements were met.
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 22 February 2018).
Why we inspected
We undertook this inspection to check whether the service was continuing to provide a good, rated service to people.
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 remains good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the 'all reports' link for KITE - Keep Independent Through Enablement 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.