Archived: Synergy Homecare - Bolton

Updated 31 December 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 carried out by 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. The registered manager was on leave on the day of the inspection, so the inspection was facilitated by the care services director, a registered manager from a sister service and members of the management team.

Notice of inspection

We gave a short period notice of the inspection because we needed to be sure there would be someone at the office to facilitate the inspection.

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. 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 eight members of staff including the care services director, a registered manager, two care coordinators, an administrator and three members of care staff. We also spoke with the registered manager of this service by telephone.

We reviewed a range of records. This included care records for six people, three staff files, training records, meeting minutes, audits and other records about the management of the home.

We visited three people in their own homes and spoke with them and one relative.

After the inspection

We spoke with a further three people who used the service and two more relatives by telephone about their experience of the care provided. We also contacted two professionals who have regular contact with the service.

Updated 31 December 2019

About the service

Synergy Homecare – Bolton is a domiciliary care agency, providing personal care to people living in their own homes in the community. They provide support to; younger adults, older people, people with dementia, learning disabilities or autistic spectrum disorder, people with mental health issues or physical disabilities and people with sensory impairment. At the time of our inspection there were 57 people receiving a service.

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

The service had effective systems to help keep people safe from abuse. General and individual risk assessments were in place and reviewed and updated as required. Medicines were managed safely.

The service had a robust recruitment procedure and staffing levels were sufficient to meet people’s needs. Staff induction was thorough and training was on-going. Staff demonstrated a high level of motivation to deliver a good service, with regard being paid to people’s privacy and dignity.

Care files in the office and in people’s homes evidenced that people’s care and support needs were fully assessed. People’s nutritional needs and preferences were documented and adhered to. Systems and training were in place to help ensure people were treated fairly and without discrimination.

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.

The service was as flexible as possible to try to accommodate people’s wishes. People’s preferences and choices were respected. People’s communication methods and needs were recorded.

Audits and checks were in place and records of complaints, accidents and incidents and safeguarding concerns analysed for any patterns or trends. The results were used to inform improvements to service delivery. Records evidenced good partnership working with the local authority and other professionals and agencies.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection

This service was registered with us on 9 November 2018 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection.

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.