Archived: Carefirst IW Limited

Updated 19 December 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This inspection was announced; we gave the provider 48 hours' notice of our inspection as it was a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that key staff members would be available.

This inspection was conducted over two days. Day one was carried out on 21 November 2018 by one inspector who visited the service’s office and an expert by experience who conducted telephone interviews with people and their family members. An expert by experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of service. Day two of the inspection was carried out on the 23 November 2018 and was completed by one inspector, who visited people who used the service in their own homes.

Before the inspection the provider completed a Provider Information Return (PIR). This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We reviewed the PIR, previous inspection reports and notifications we had been sent by the provider. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

During the inspection we spoke with 22 people who used the service, or their relatives, by telephone and visited four people in their own homes. We spoke with the three company directors, one member of the office staff and five care staff members. Following the inspection, we received feedback from one social care professional.

We looked at care plans and associated records of care for eight people. We also reviewed records about how the service was managed, including staff training and recruitment records, complaints procedure, compliments, and audits completed by the management team.

The service was last inspected in April 2016 when it was rated as Good. At this inspection we found the service remains Good.

Updated 19 December 2018

Carefirst IW Limited is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes in the community. It provides a service to older adults, people living with dementia, mental health impairments, physical disabilities, sensory impairment and younger adults.

Not everyone using Carefirst IW Limited received a regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care'; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do, we also take into account any wider social care provided. This inspection was undertaken on 21and 23 November 2018 and was announced. We gave the provider 48 hours' notice of our inspection as we needed to be sure key staff members would be available. At the time of the inspection approximately 70 people were receiving a regulated activity from Carefirst IW Limited.

At the last inspection we rated the service good. At this inspection the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and on-going monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns.

A registered manager was in post. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People and their families told us they felt safe. Staff understood their safeguarding responsibilities and knew how to prevent, identify and report abuse. Risks relating to the health and support needs of the people and the environment in which they lived, were assessed and managed effectively. There were safe medication administration systems in place and people received their medicines when required.

Safe recruitment practices were followed and appropriate checks were undertaken, which helped make sure only suitable staff were employed to care for people in their own homes. There were sufficient numbers of staff to maintain the schedule of visits.

The provider and staff understood their responsibilities to protect people from the risk of infection. There was an infection control policy in place which was followed by staff and staff undertook training in this area.

Staff completed an induction programme and were appropriately supported in their work by the management team. People and their families described the staff as being well trained and they were confident in the staff’s abilities.

Staff and the management team, knew how legislation designed to protect people's rights affected their work. They always asked for consent from people before providing care.

People were supported to maintain good health and to access appropriate healthcare services when required. Staff were aware of people’s health needs and understand how people's medical conditions impacted their abilities.

People were supported to use technology and specialist equipment to meet their care needs and to support their independence where appropriate.

People who used the service felt they were treated with kindness and said their privacy and dignity was respected.

People and when appropriate their families, were involved in discussions about their care planning and given the opportunity to provide feedback on the service.

The directors of the company were fully engaged in the running of the service. People, their family members and staff members told us they felt the service was well-led. The culture of the service was open and transparent. The directors of the company had a range of quality monitoring systems in place and the management team aimed to continuously improve the quality of the service they provided.