Background to this inspection
Updated
23 December 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 carried out by 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. The Expert by Experience made telephone calls, off site, to obtain feedback from people who used the service and their relatives.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats.
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.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. They were also the provider. This meant they were legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Inspection activity started on 6 December 2021 and ended on 16 December 2021 when we gave feedback. We visited the office location on 6 December 2021.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed our systems and information we held about the service. The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the 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.
During the inspection-
We visited the office location on 6 December 2021. We reviewed a range of records which included risk assessments, medication records for four people and four staff records. We also viewed accident and incident records and management monitoring and oversight records.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records. We had contact with seven people who receive care and support from Sunflower Homecare about their experience and three relatives. We spoke with three members of staff and received electronic feedback via email from two members of staff and the local commissioning team who work with the service.
Updated
23 December 2021
About the service
Sunflower Homecare is a domiciliary care service providing care to people in their own homes. Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive a regulated activity of personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do receive personal care, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of inspection, Sunflower Homecare provided a service to 30 people of which 20 people received personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People and their relatives were complimentary about the service Sunflower Homecare provided and how it was managed. The provider worked in partnership with people, relatives and other professionals to achieve individualised, person-centred care.
People felt safe with the care and support provided by the staff and were comfortable in their company. Staff had received safeguarding training and knew how to protect people from potential harm. Safeguarding policies and processes were in place.
People received their care calls at the times they expected, for the length of time agreed and from staff they knew. Medicines and risks associated with people’s care was well managed, and in line with legislative requirements and recognised best practice guidelines. Staff followed good infection prevention and control practices to keep people and themselves safe.
People were supported by a staff team who were safely recruited and who had the relevant training and qualifications to safely meet their needs. Staffing and recruitment was a challenge, particularly considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite this staff and the management team worked hard to ensure that people received their care calls as planned.
People's care plans were detailed and person-centred, they promoted choice and guided staff on how to support people safely and encourage their independence. They included information on people's family, history, skills, hobbies and interests.
Staff understood the importance of gaining consent from people. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and care 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 and relatives felt able to raise any issues with the staff and management team and were confident these would be addressed. Staff felt supported and valued in their role by the management team.
Systems to monitor the quality and safety of the service were in place. Quality monitoring systems allowed for effective monitoring of the service by the provider.
Rating at last inspection
The service was registered with us on 24 February 2020 and this is their first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned comprehensive 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.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk