Background to this inspection
Updated
26 November 2019
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
The inspection team consisted of one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the start of the inspection. This was because the service is small and people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home to speak with us.
Inspection activity started on 23 October 2019 and ended on 11 November 2019. We visited the office location on 6 November.
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 commissioning and safeguarding teams. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection-
We spoke with six people who used the service and three relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff including the office manager, a senior care worker and two care workers.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three 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.
Updated
26 November 2019
About the service
S&S Homecare Limited is a homecare service providing personal care to elderly people living in the Keighley area of West Yorkshire. At the time of the inspection it was providing personal care to 18 people.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. 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.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People told us they felt safe and secure in the company of staff. Risks to people’s health and safety were assessed and mitigated by the service. There were enough staff deployed to ensure people received a reliable and timely service. Staff were recruited safely to help ensure they were of suitable character to work with vulnerable people. Medicines were managed safely by the service and people received their medicines as prescribed.
People received good outcomes whilst using the service. Staff were consistent and knowledgeable about people’s individual needs. The service liaised with health professionals to help maintain people’s health. 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.
Staff were kind and caring and treated people well. People were cared for by a small and consistent team of staff and good relationships had developed between them. Staff treated people, their possessions and houses with dignity and respect. People were listened to by the staff and the management team.
People received high-quality person-centred care in line with their needs and preferences. People received calls at a consistent time each day. Staff said communication within the service was good. Any issues or complaints were dealt with appropriately.
People and staff all praised the way the company was run and said they would recommend it. The management team had good oversight of the service and knew people well. A range of audits and checks were undertaken to ensure a high performing service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was Good (published 13 April 2017).
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.