Background to this inspection
Updated
21 March 2020
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 was carried out by one inspector.
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 25 February 2020 and ended on 27 February 2020. We visited the office location on 25 February 2020.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with 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 spoke with four people who used the service and two relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with six members of staff including care workers and the registered manager.
We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care records and multiple medication records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
After the inspection
We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. The registered manager sent us ‘as required medicines’ protocols and one amended care plan to demonstrate the changes which had been implemented.
Updated
21 March 2020
About the service
Homecare4u Stoke is a domiciliary care agency. It is registered to provide personal care to people living in their own homes in and around Stoke-on-Trent. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is related to help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of our inspection, 42 people were receiving personal care.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
People felt safe and were protected from the risk of harm by staff who understood their responsibilities to identify and report any signs of potential abuse. Any concerns were taken seriously and investigated in line with local safeguarding procedures.
There were enough suitably recruited staff to meet people’s needs. Staff received training and ongoing support to meet people’s individual needs. Staff worked closely with other professionals, who were positive about the care and support people received. People were supported by a consistent staff team who knew people well.
People’s needs were assessed, and care plans were developed involving people which ensured their care needs were met. People received appropriate support to ensure their dietary needs were being met and staff worked with health professionals to ensure people received consistent care.
People told us the staff always respected their privacy and dignity and provided care in their preferred way. 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.
There was an open culture within the service, where complaints were acted on and improvements made. People could approach the registered manager who acted on concerns raised to make improvements to the way care was delivered.
Governance systems were in place to ensure the quality of the service being delivered was to a good standard.
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 05 March 2019 and this was the first inspection.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection as per our inspection programme.
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.