Background to this inspection
Updated
3 May 2017
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection checked whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
This inspection took place on 16 March 2017 and was announced. The provider was given 48 hours’ notice because the location provides a domiciliary care service and we needed to be sure that someone would be in.
The inspection was conducted by one inspector.
As part of the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service, such as statutory notifications we had received from the provider. A statutory notification is information about important events which the provider is required to send us by law. We asked the local authority and Healthwatch if they had information to share about the service provided. We used this information to plan the inspection.
During the inspection we spoke with seven people who used the service and two relatives. We spoke with six staff which included the registered and deputy managers and four care staff. We viewed three records which related to assessment of needs and risks. We also viewed other records which related to the management of the service such as complaints, quality assurance processes and three recruitment records.
Updated
3 May 2017
The inspection was carried out on 16 March 2017 and was announced.
Caring Angels Home Care Limited is a domiciliary care agency that provides personal care and support to people in their own homes. At the time of our visit, the agency was providing a service to 25 people. The frequency and duration of visits across the service varied dependent on people’s needs.
There was a registered manager in post who was present during the inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
People who used the service felt safe when supported by staff in their homes and when they went out with them. Staff had received training and were knowledgeable about the different types of abuse. They were able to recognise the signs of abuse and knew how to report any concerns, should they witness or become aware of abuse taking place.
Risks associated with people’s needs and environments were routinely assessed and kept under review. Staff were aware of the risks and how to minimise these without restricting people’s choice and independence.
People received support from regular care staff who provided consistent support. Safer recruitment checks were made to ensure that staff were suitable and safe to work with people in their own homes. The registered manager kept staffing levels under review and only took on new care packages when they had capacity to do so. People were supported by staff who were reliable and punctual.
People received support to take their medicines as prescribed. Only staff who had received training on the safe management of medicines were able to administer them. Staff monitored people’s health and helped them access healthcare support where necessary.
People were confident that staff had the skills and knowledge to meet their individual needs. Staff were positive about the training opportunities offered to them and with the quality of training provided. Staff felt valued and well supported.
Staff sought people’s consent and provided information to them in a way they understood to enable them to make decisions for themselves.
People’s nutritional needs were assessed and staff were aware of their dietary needs. People were satisfied with the support they received to eat and drink enough.
People and their relatives were very complimentary about the support they received. People found staff to be patient, kind and caring. They were given choice and felt listened to. Staff treated people with dignity and respect and encouraged them to remain as independent as possible.
Staff had formed positive working relationships with people and their relatives. People received personalised care that took account of their wishes and preferences for service delivery.
People were encouraged to voice their opinions on the quality of care received. The provider had a clear complaints process.
People and their relatives felt the service was very well run and would recommend it to others.
There was a positive working culture where staff and management worked together to meet people’s needs and the aims of the service. The registered manager had a range of checks in place to monitor the quality of the service and used the information to make improvements.