Background to this inspection
Updated
22 December 2020
The inspection
As part of a pilot into virtual inspections of domiciliary and extra-care housing services, the Care Quality Commission conducted an inspection of this provider on 3 November 2020. The inspection was carried out with the consent of the provider and was part of a pilot to gather information to inform CQC whether it might be possible to conduct inspections in a different way in the future. We completed this inspection using virtual methods and online tools such as electronic file sharing, video calls and phone calls to gather the information we rely on to form a judgement on the care and support provided. At no time did we visit the provider’s or location’s office as we usually would when conducting an inspection.
Inspection team
The inspection was conducted by an inspector, a member of the CQC medicines inspection team, an Expert by Experience and CQC support services. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
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 inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager could support us with the virtual inspection.
Inspection activity started on 02 November 2020 and ended on 05 November 2020
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. 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 nine people who used the service and six relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff, one social worker, one occupational therapist as well as the registered manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included nine people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at staff personnel files in relation to recruitment procedures. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at call monitoring data and quality assurance records.
Updated
22 December 2020
This report was created as part of a pilot which looked at new and innovative ways of fulfilling The Care Quality Commission's (CQC) regulatory obligations and responding to risk in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. This was conducted with the consent of the provider. Unless the report says otherwise, we obtained the information in it without visiting the Provider.
About the service
Warrington Borough Council Intermediate Care at Home is a domiciliary care service provided by the Local Authority. The service is managed from premises in Irwell Road, Warrington and provides intermediate, and rehabilitative personal care across the Warrington Borough Council area. At the time of the inspection, the provider was supporting 85 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 received person-centred care that was tailored around their support needs and areas of risk. Packages of care were regularly reviewed, and levels of risk were routinely assessed, reviewed and monitored.
People told us they felt safe receiving care from the provider. People were protected from avoidable harm, staff received safeguarding training and knew how to escalate any concerns that presented. Safeguarding incidents were reported and regular reviews and trend analysis took place.
Safe recruitment processes were in place; candidates were appropriately selected and the necessary recruitment checks were carried out. Staffing levels were routinely monitored and people received care and support by staff who were familiar with their support needs.
Medication processes and systems were safely implemented. Staff were appropriately trained to administer medication and routinely had their competency levels checked. Medication audits helped to monitor and review medication compliance; areas of improvement were quickly responded to and managed.
Governance systems helped to monitor the quality and safety of care people received. The registered manager ensured that all areas of care were monitored and assessed, this helped to ensure regulatory compliance but also helped to identify where improvements were needed.
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.
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 12 December 2017) insert date last report published in brackets.
Why we inspected
This was a planned pilot virtual inspection. The report was created as part of a pilot which looked at new and innovative ways of fulfilling CQC’s regulatory obligations and responding to risk in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. This was conducted with the consent of the provider. Unless the report says otherwise, we obtained the information in it without visiting the provider.
The pilot inspection considered the key questions of safe and well-led and provide a rating for those key questions. Only parts of the effective, caring and responsive key questions were considered, and therefore the ratings for these key questions are those awarded at the last inspection.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Warrington Borough Council Intermediate Care at Home on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
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.