Background to this inspection
Updated
21 August 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 was completed by two inspectors and two Expert by Experiences. 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 would be in the office to support the inspection.
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 21 people who used the service and nine relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with four members of staff and the registered manager. We reviewed a range of records. This included eight people’s care records and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision and a variety of records relating to the management of the service.
After the inspection –
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.
Updated
21 August 2019
About the service
Westminster Homecare Limited (Chelmsford) is a domiciliary care agency that was providing
personal care to 114 people living in their own home at the time of the inspection.
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 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.
There were systems for assessing and managing risk to help make sure all were kept safe from foreseeable risks. People received safe care and staff understood safeguarding procedures. Recruitment practices were safe, and there was enough staff, which meant people received the calls they needed.
There were systems in place to make sure people received their medicines safely. The service analysed accidents and incidents to prevent reoccurrence and keep people safe from harm.
We have made a recommendation about improving guidance for people with variable mobility needs.
Staff had the right skills and experience to meet people's needs. A comprehensive induction and training programme was completed by all staff. Assessments were carried out to ensure people's needs could be met. Staff understood people's likes, dislikes and preferences and people told us they were offered choices about their care.
The provider ensured there was effective oversight and governance of the service and any concerns in relation to the quality of support were identified and acted upon promptly.
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 05 July 2018)
Why we inspected
The overall rating for the service has changed from requires improvement to good. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
Enforcement
Since the last inspection we recognised that the provider had failed, without reasonable excuse, to comply with a condition of their registration namely a registered manager condition (Section 33 Health and Social Care Act 2008). This was a breach of regulation and we issued a fixed penalty notice. The provider accepted a fixed penalty and paid this in full.
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.