Updated 6 October 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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Inspection team
This inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. This service type is different to many domiciliary care agencies because a lot of the people who use the service only have a visit once a week. This enables their family or close friends (who care for them) receive a break.
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
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 20 July 2023 and ended on 09 August 2023. We visited the location’s office on 20 July 2023. We carried out telephone calls and sought feedback with relatives and staff between 21 July 2023 and 09 August 2023.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and 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 10 relatives about their experience of the service. We also spoke with 12 members of staff including the registered manager, senior management, office staff, senior care workers and care workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included 9 people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at 5 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.