Background to this inspection
Updated
16 October 2021
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 comprised an inspector and an Expert by Experience. 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 homes.
The service had a manager registered with CQC. 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 a short period notice of the inspection to give the provider time to contact people we wanted to speak with about their experience of care.
Inspection activity started on 15 June 2021 and ended on 25 June 2021. We visited the office location on 17 June 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since registration. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who worked with the service. 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 four people who used the service and five family members about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with eight members of staff including the registered manager and managing director.
We reviewed a range of records. This included people’s care records and staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We looked at a variety of other records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at records the provider sent us online. We followed up with professionals who worked closely with the service.
Updated
16 October 2021
About the service
Blue Angel Care Limited is a home care agency supporting people with personal care in their own homes. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. The Care Quality Commission (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. At the time of this inspection there were 67 people receiving support from the provider.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Feedback from people and their families was positive. One person told us, “They are the best company I have been in.” A family member said, “They always look after [Name] well.” Another person said, “They are always very helpful, happy and careful. They do anything I ask them to.”
People received care and support that was safe. People were protected from avoidable harm and abuse by staff who were aware of their responsibilities to report any concerns. People felt safe and were protected against other risks to their health and welfare, including risks associated with infectious diseases such as COVID-19.
People received care and support that was effective and based on detailed assessments and care plans. 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.
People were supported in a caring way. The service focused on people’s independence and dignity, and respecting them as individuals. People said they would recommend the service to others. One person’s relative said, “They perform very well. The carers have got people’s well-being uppermost.”
People received responsive care. There were processes in place to make sure people received care according to their agreed plans, needs and preferences. The provider had arrangements in place to make sure people could communicate their needs and preferences, taking account of their individual needs and any sensory impairments.
People told us the service was well managed. The provider had effective systems in place to manage the service, and to monitor and improve the quality of care people received. They made use of technology and computer systems to monitor and review people’s care and make sure it was of a high standard. Staff felt valued, supported and empowered to deliver high quality care.
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 6 February 2019 and this was the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the time the service had been without a rating since it was registered with us.
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.