Archived: I Care Service

Care plans and individual risk assessments looked through during this inspection were now up to date and had been signed and dated. This ensured information was current and accurate.

Care plan reviews had been completed in January 2014 and a further review had been planned for April 2014. We read some plans that had required changes at the review stage. They showed people had improved since receiving care and were now more independent. This told us the care provided was enabling and helped people become more independent.

The provider and manager were now monitoring the quality of the service by regular checks on all aspects of the service. This included asking people their views, supervising staff, keeping care plan reviews up to date and improving the record keeping.

Records within the office were completed, up to date, signed by the manager and/or provider and stored safely.

Each person confirmed to us that they had a care plan in their home which the carers used whilst carrying out their care and support. We were told that the staff at I-Care respected and promoted people's privacy and dignity. One person's relative told us "The care is very dignified, they ensure [my relative] is covered with a towel and if any other family members are in the house at the time of care the doors are always pushed to'.

Arrangements were in place to ensure that people were safeguarded from abuse.

However, prior to our inspection we received information of concern which indicated that care plans were not being appropriately kept and that care records were not up to date. We found that record keeping was not accurate and that the provider was not monitoring the quality of the service which it provided.

Compliments received by the service included 'You ladies were a pleasure to have in the house, all the care and attention given to [xxxx] was all we could have asked for' and, 'I really want to thank you and your team for everything ' you are all very special'.

Staff understood their responsibilities about safeguarding people from abuse. We saw that regular training took place of the protection of vulnerable adults.

We found that the appropriate checks were undertaken before staff began work to ensure that only suitably vetted people were employed to work with vulnerable adults.

We noted that the provider had an effective complaints policy and procedure in place and that people had been provided with information about how to access this.