Napier Homecare Services Limited

Updated 9 January 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.

As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.

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.

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 did not have 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. However, we saw evidence the new manager was in the process of registering with CQC.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was unannounced.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority commissioning and safeguarding teams. 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 Napier Homecare and made the judgements in this report. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke about Napier Homecare with four people, four relatives, five staff, the manager and the provider. We looked at records related to the management of the service. We did this to ensure the provider had oversight of the service, responded to any concerns and led Napier Homecare in ongoing improvements. We checked care records of three people and looked at staffing levels, recruitment procedures and quality oversight.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at medication and training records, as well as their quality assurance systems.

Updated 9 January 2021

About the service

Napier Homecare Services Limited provides domiciliary services to 147 people who require support in their own home at the time of our inspection. The service supports a wide range of people in the community and operates seven days a week. Napier Homecare Services Limited will be referred to as Napier Homecare within this report.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

People confirmed their medication was managed safely. One person said, “No problems, yes they watch me while I take the medication.” The manager enhanced infection control procedures and ensured staff had sufficient equipment during the pandemic. People and their relatives stated they felt safe and staff had training to enhance their skills to protect each person.

People and relatives experienced Napier Homecare as a friendly, professional service and told us the management team had a positive impact on care. Staff stated they worked well together and found the new manager was supportive and caring.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

Rating at last inspection and update

The last rating for this service was good (published 18 May 2018).

Why we inspected

We wanted to assure ourselves the service remained safe since our last inspection and continued to be led well under the new manager.

We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to coronavirus and other infection outbreaks effectively.

We reviewed the information we held about the service. No areas of concern were identified in the other key questions. We therefore did not inspect them. Ratings from previous comprehensive inspections for those key questions were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection.

We found no evidence during this inspection that people were at risk of harm from this concern. Please see the safe and well-led sections of this full report.

You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Napier Homecare on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.

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.