Background to this inspection
Updated
11 January 2016
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.
The inspection took place on 4th November 2015 and was announced. We told the provider 48 hours before our visit that we would be coming. We did this to ensure the manager was available as they could be out of the office supporting staff or people who used the service.
The inspection was completed by one inspector.
We reviewed the information we held about the service including safeguarding alerts and statutory notifications which related to the service. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.
On the day of the inspection we met the providers one of whom is the acting manager at their office. We also spoke with three members of staff and the administrator. We reviewed five care records, training records, four staff recruitment and support files, audits and minutes of staff meetings. After the inspection visit we undertook phone calls to six people that used the service, two relatives and a further two staff.
Updated
11 January 2016
The inspection was carried out on 4th November 2015. Peace of Mind Homecare is a domiciliary care agency that provides personal care and domestic support to older people who live in their own homes. The organisation offers support to people living in Clacton-on-Sea and local surrounding areas. There are currently 30 people who use the service.
The service has a registered manager however they had just resigned at the time of our inspection. The previous registered manager, who is also one of the providers, is currently in charge of the operation of the service. A new manager is now actively being recruited. 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.
The agency had suitable processes in place to safeguard people from different forms of abuse. There were systems in place which provided guidance for staff on how to safeguard the people who used the service from the potential risk of abuse. Staff understood the various types of abuse and knew who to report any concerns to.
There were procedures and processes in place to ensure the safety of the people who used the service. People were safe because staff understood their responsibilities in managing risk. Where people required assistance to take their medicines there were arrangements in place to provide this support safely.
The agency provided sufficient numbers of staff to meet people’s needs and provide a flexible service Staff were well supported to meet the needs of the people who used the service. Care workers had good relationships with people who used the service.
Staff received regular training relevant to their roles and responsibilities. They had the skills, knowledge and experience required to support people with their care and support needs.
Where people required assistance with their dietary needs there were systems in place to provide this support safely. People were supported with meal planning, preparation and eating and drinking.
People or their representatives, where appropriate, were involved in making decisions about their care and support. Care plans provided guidance for staff, had been tailored to the individual and contained information about how they communicated and their ability to make decisions.
Where care workers had identified concerns in people’s wellbeing there were systems in place to contact health and social care professionals to make sure they received appropriate care and treatment.
Care workers understood their roles and responsibilities in providing safe and good quality care to the people who used the service.
A complaints procedure was in place. People’s concerns and complaints were listened to, addressed in a timely manner and used to improve the service.
The agency had processes in place to monitor the delivery of the service. The service had a quality assurance system and shortfalls were addressed. People’s views were also obtained through annual surveys. The provider analysed these and checked how well people felt the agency was meeting their needs.