Background to this inspection
Updated
16 November 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
This inspection was undertaken by one 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 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 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 8 October 2021 and ended on the 22 October 2021. We visited the office location on 21 October 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since their registration. 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 five people who used the service, one relative, seven staff, including the registered manager, nominated individual, office staff and care staff. The nominated individual is responsible for supervising the management of the service on behalf of the provider.
We reviewed a range of records. This included two people’s care records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including comments from people who have received a service, policies and procedures were also reviewed.
Updated
16 November 2021
About the service
Home Instead Cuffley, Chestunt & Harlow is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to adults in their own homes. Not everyone who used the service received the regulated activity of 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. At the time of this inspection, the service was providing personal care to 22 people.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People all told us they felt safe and well supported. One person told us, “I feel safe with the staff I see that carry out my care.” Risks were identified, assessed and regularly reviewed. Staff felt well supported and received training appropriate for their roles. People were given their medicines safely and staff followed infection prevention and control procedures.
People were asked to give their consent for support and the principles of the Mental Capacity Act were followed. 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 treated people with respect and upheld their privacy and dignity. People described staff as kind and caring and relatives were satisfied their family members were in safe hands. One person told us, “I’m well looked after.” Another person said, “I’m well satisfied with the service.” Staff knew people well and encouraged people to be as independent as possible.
Care plans included all information needed to support people safely and in accordance with their wishes and preferences. These were reviewed regularly.
Audits were carried out to ensure the service was of high quality and the provider engaged people, their relatives and staff in giving their views about how the service could improve.
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 13 November 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.