Background to this inspection
Updated
16 May 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 site inspection took place on 16 March 2018 and was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because it is small and the manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be available to support the inspection.
The inspection was carried out by an inspector and telephone calls were made to people and their relatives by an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has had experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
We reviewed information we held about the service, this included the results of questionnaires CQC sent to people, their relatives and community professionals and information received from the provider where they are required to send us by law. We used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return (PIR). This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make..
We visited the office location on 16 March 2018 to see the registered manager and office staff; and to review care records and policies and procedures. We looked at five care records and three staff files. Telephone calls were made to people, their relatives and staff on 16, 19, 21 and 26 March 2018. We spoke with five people who use the service and 13 relatives. We also spoke with nine
members of staff, the registered manager and office staff and an external professional.
Updated
16 May 2018
We carried out this announced site inspection on 16 March 2018. This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community. It provides a service to older adults. Not everyone using Care 4 U Wolverhampton receives 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 service was last inspected in August 2015 and was rated as ‘good’ in all domains; Since this inspection the registered office has changed address. However the provider and staff remain the same.
At the time of our inspection, 30 people were supported with their personal care needs by the service. There was a registered manager 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 relatives were extremely positive about the care provided by the service and said that they felt safe receiving care in their homes. Staff recognised the signs of potential abuse and knew the reporting system to keep people safe. People were placed at the centre of their care and their risks were assessed and reviewed regularly to ensure care remained appropriate to meet their needs. There were sufficient numbers of trained staff who had the appropriate recruitment checks to ensure they were suitable for their role. Staff arrived on time for their visits and the right numbers of staff were available to provide the support people needed. People received their medicines as prescribed by staff who had been assessed as competent to give people’s medicines safely.
People and their relatives were involved in all decisions about how they wanted their care and support needs met. People spoke positively about the professional relationships they had with staff. Staff ensured people consented to the care they received and were aware of how to respect people’s choices and rights. People were supported to have sufficient to eat and drink and were encouraged to have a balanced diet. People were supported to access healthcare services when required.
Everyone said staff went above and beyond what was expected from them. People and their relatives spoke extremely positively about the outstanding care they received and referred to staff and the provider as being extremely kind, caring and friendly. People were placed at the centre of their care and people told us they felt listened to and valued by staff by the staff who supported them. People told us staff always respected their privacy and dignity when providing care and where supported to develop their independence.
People were encouraged to give their feedback and views about the quality of the service they received. Communication systems used to share information about people’s care and support needs were effective. Staff had an excellent understanding of what was important to people and delivered care in a way they wished to receive care. Care records were personalised, regularly reviewed and updated to ensure they were reflective of people’s current needs. There was a system in place to record and investigate concerns and issues were dealt with appropriately.
People said the service was very well run. The provider was passionate about providing person centred care. The leadership within the service was strong and an open and a positive culture was promoted. People were supported by caring committed staff. Staff said they felt valued and were listened to by the provider. Staff were confident in their roles and were aware of their responsibilities and said they had access to support and training they needed.
Effective quality audit checks were in place and completed regularly to monitor the quality of the service provided. People were happy to recommend the service to family and friends based on their own experiences.