The Care Quality Commission

Archived: T C S Wellingborough

Main House, 29-31, Main Road, Wilby, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 2UB (01933) 225121

Provided and run by:
Triangular Care Services Ltd

All Inspections

12 March 2013

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We spoke with two people and three relatives as part of this inspection. We were told that staff provided a good service. One relative said that management was sympathetic, but slow to act sometimes.

We also received a small number of comments. There was a comment that staff petrol allowances were not adequate. This caused a high staff turnover. The manager stated he was considering this issue at present. There was another comment that staff meetings were not held regularly. The manager said this would be followed up. One person said that a suggestion box at the office would be helpful. Manager stated he would look at this provision. There was a comment that staff were not always praised for the good word they had carried down. The manager said he was surprised by this, but would consider whether anything else needed to be done.

At the last inspection we found that the service was still not compliant with checking whether prospective staff were suitable to be employed to provide care. This meant that people receiving care were not fully protected from unsuitable staff. We found that the service was now compliant with this standard.

We received information from various sources since the last inspection, so we followed up these issues. We found that care was not fully sufficient to meet people's needs.

12 December 2012

During a routine inspection

We did not speak to any people as part of this inspection.

We found that the service was still not fully checking whether prospective staff were suitable to be employed as care workers. This meant that people receiving care were not fully protected from unsuitable staff.

20 September 2012

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We spoke with two people about the service they received. They confirmed that staff properly attended to their personal care needs, and they were always friendly to them.

One person said that the organisation of staff was poor on occasion. He said this was because care had not been organised for him on occasion. This meant that staff had been late on occasion after head office had realised their mistake. Another person said there were too many different staff providing his care. He preferred to have the same staff. The manager said that these issues would be followed up.

We made two visits to the service. The first visit was on 20 September 2012. We made a second visit to the service as we had received information that proper staffing checks had not been carried out by the agency. The date of the second visit was 27 September 2012.

We also received information that financial transactions, through staff helping people with issues such as shopping, had not been recorded properly. This was acknowledged by the manager, who sent us a letter stating that stricter arrangements and recording was to be put into place.

17 May 2012

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We carried out a routine inspection of the service. We had concerns on our last inspection visit with regard to medication practices, staff training, management not having proper systems to ensure that people received a quality service, and whether the agency were notifying us of all important legal events. We therefore followed up these standards on this inspection as well. We found out management had taken steps to rectify these issues. However we were still concerned that the planning of care did not cover all the essential needs of people.

We spoke with five people who used the service. We also spoke with four relatives and one friend of a person about their views of the care provided.

All of the people we spoke with were very satisfied with the care supplied by the service. Staff were seen as professional, caring and helpful.

People praised the service. One person said: ''Very much up to standard. Always friendly'. One friend of the person said: 'Nothing is too much trouble for this agency'.

21 February 2012

During an inspection looking at part of the service

We spoke with five people who use the service. We also spoke with three relatives about their views of the care provided.

All of the people we spoke with were very satisfied with the care supplied by the service. Staff were all seen as good at their jobs and caring.

People praised the service: ''Care is very good. I never have had a problem with staff '. 'Staff get me up when I want. They do everything I ask '. 'Staff are all very friendly and careful with me '.

Although people were satisfied with the service they received, we still have concerns about the agency having proper systems in place to help people to take their prescribed medication, support their staff to have appropriate training to cover the assessed needs of people, notify us of all relevant incidents and have an effective quality control system to ensure the service is of the highest standard.

There was a comment that communication from head office always needed to be effective. The person said that information relayed to the office was not always passed to staff. The manager said this issue would be followed up.

18 August 2011

During an inspection in response to concerns

We spoke with three people who use the service. We also spoke with seven relatives about their views of the care provided.

All of the people we spoke with were very satisfied with the care supplied by the service. Staff were seen as friendly and helpful. The only suggestions from the client survey to improve the service were to have the care plans being reviewed more regularly and to have better communication between care staff and the agency office. The manager said that he would follow these suggestions up.

People largely praised the service: 'Staff are absolutely perfect. They could not be better'. 'I have complained before and the agency quickly resolved the problem'. 'I don't think staff could be any better. They are well trained, friendly and have a joke with you'. 'I am always pleased to see the staff. They help you out whenever they can'. 'I feel perfectly safe with all the staff.'