Background to this inspection
Updated
14 January 2022
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
Your Life Borehamwood is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to people living in their own homes in a supported living setting Goldwyn house. This setting supports people so that they can live as independently as possible. People’s care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.
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
This inspection was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 7th December and ended on 15 December 2021. We visited the service on 9 December 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority. The provider completed a provider information return [PIR] prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us with key information about their service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report. This information helps support our inspections.
During the inspection
We spoke with three people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with two staff members of staff including the registered manage and area manager. We also received written feedback from three staff members.
We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records, including risk assessment and medication records. We looked at the staff recruitment process. We looked at training and staff supervision and support. Other records reviewed related management of the service, including audits relating to all aspects of the service.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found.
Updated
14 January 2022
About the service
Your Life Borehamwood is a supported living service. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes in an apartment block Goldwyn House. There are some shared facilities, including a lounge, and restaurant.
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 living in their own homes within Goldwyn House. Risk assessments had been completed to identify any potential risks to people. Measures were in place to mitigate risks, to help keep people safe. Staff were knowledgeable about how to help keep people safe and had received regular safeguarding training. People and their families told us they had been involved in the assessment process.
People were positive about their living arrangements and the support they received from staff at Your Life Borehamwood. One person told us, “I am very pleased to be living here and have everything I need." Another person told us "The staff are very good, kind and caring. They are a small team so I know them and they know me."
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 told us, and we saw evidence of a robust recruitment process. This included completion of all relevant pre-employment checks. There were enough suitably qualified and skilled staff available to support people at their chosen times.
Staff had received training in the safe administration of medicines. Competency checks were in place to help ensure continued good practice. Regular audits were completed by the registered manager.
People told us they were confident that if they had any concerns, they would feel comfortable to speak to the registered manager who they said was approachable.
The registered manager was supported by an area manager and a range of quality assurance audits were completed on a regular basis. The management team were receptive to feedback, and were committed to making improvements.
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 26 February 2019 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection as a newly registered service.
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.