The Care Quality Commission

Archived: Homecare4U Stoke

12 Albion Street, Stoke On Trent, Staffordshire, ST1 1QH (01270) 749273

Provided and run by:
Homecare4U Limited

All Inspections

23 May 2013

During a routine inspection

We completed this inspection over two days, the first included looking at documentation in the agency office and talking to staff. The second day was spent visiting a person that used the service and speaking to the staff member providing support. We planned this inspection as part of our schedule and also because we had received concerns about some aspects of the service. We had also received contact from the local authority who were looking into areas of concern relating to how the service performed.

People we spoke with told us they were happy with aspects of the service provided. They told us; "The staff are okay. They usually arrive when they say they will". "I have had concerns and have reported them to the council or the office". "They can't seem to get it right".

Records we looked at were not always in sufficient detail to provide support staff with the information they may need to deliver appropriate care. We saw that care records were available in the home's of people that used the service, but we couldn't always tell if they were up to date.

We saw that the service had recruitment procedures in place, but found that checks to ensure that staff were suitable to work with vulnerable people were not always completed before staff were allocated to work with people. Staff we spoke with gave mixed opinions of the induction they received.

The service had started to audit aspects of the service, but had not ensured that changes had been implemented.

19 December 2012

During an inspection in response to concerns

This was a responsive inspection as we had received information that provider may not be recruiting staff safely. We told the provider the previous day we were visiting. This was to make sure that there were staff available to talk with.

We did not speak to people that used the service as part of this inspection. We spoke with three care workers who told us that the provider completed a number of recruitment checks before they started work. We saw evidence in files to confirm this.

Care workers received training before they started work. This included induction training and training in moving people safely, medication and safeguarding people.

The provider provided care workers with information about keeping people safe. Care workers confirmed they had training in safeguarding issues and were aware of their responsibilities to report any concerns.