Background to this inspection
Updated
17 April 2019
The inspection:
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.
Inspection team:
The inspection was completed by one inspector and one expert by experience [ExE]. 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:
Liberty Choice is a domiciliary care service providing personal care to people living in the Winchester area. 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 visit because it is a small service and the manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be available to talk with us.
What we did before, during and following the inspection;
• Before the inspection we looked at information we held about the service:
Due to technical problems the provider was not able to complete a Provider Information Return. 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. The registered manager was able to give us a copy of the PIR on the day of our inspection and we took this into account when we inspected the service and made judgements in this report.
• We sought feedback from two health and social care professionals from the local authority who worked with the service but did not receive a response to our request.
During the inspection:
• Inspection site visit activity started on 27 March 2019. We visited the office location to speak with the registered manager and office staff.
• Telephone calls were made to people receiving care and their relatives by our expert by experience to gather feedback on the delivery of care provided by Liberty Choice. We spoke with four people receiving care and six relatives.
• We reviewed staff recruitment, training and supervision records for four staff.
• We looked at records of accidents, incidents, complaints and compliments.
• We reviewed the care records and risk assessments for four people.
• We reviewed audits, quality assurance reports and surveys.
• Spoke with the registered manager and three care staff.
• On the 28th March 2019 we telephoned and spoke with a further three members of care staff.
Updated
17 April 2019
About the service:
Liberty Choice is a domiciliary care provider. At the time of this inspection 13 people received personal care support from the service. The service supported older people, some of who were living with dementia and people with physical disabilities, within their own homes.
Not everyone using the service receives regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with ‘personal care’; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also take into account any wider social care provided.
At the time of this inspection the service was relocating from the address shown on page one of this report to Unit 7, Scylla Estates, Winnall Valley Road, Winchester, Hants, SO23 0LD. An application to change the address of the provider had been received and was in process with the Care Quality Commission. The address where this inspection was undertaken was, Unit 7 Scylla Estates, Winnall Valley Road, Winchester, Hants, SO23 0LD.
People’s experience of using this service:
• People received a service that was safe. The provider had systems and processes in place to manage medicines safely
• Staff were aware of the risk of abuse, signs to look out for, and how to report any concerns.
• There were sufficient numbers of suitable staff to support people safely according to their needs.
• People received care and support from staff who were trained sufficiently and had the right skills and knowledge. People’s care and support led to good outcomes.
• People and their relatives spoke positively about the care and support they received from Liberty Choice. They described the care staff as kind and helpful.
• Care workers had developed good relationships with people they supported. They respected people’s dignity and privacy, and promoted their independence.
• People were actively involved in their care and support decisions with their relatives where appropriate.
• People’s needs were reflected in care plans which contained detailed information about how they wished to receive care and support.
• People and relatives confirmed that people were treated with dignity, respect and that their independence was promoted.
• Management processes were in place to monitor and improve the quality of the service.
• There was a positive culture within the staff team, and staff told us they enjoyed working for the service.
• The registered manager was supported to deliver high quality care by the management team and a staff team who understood the need to deliver good quality care.
Rating at last inspection:
• At the last inspection in January 2017 the service was rated Good. At this inspection the service remained good.
Why we inspected:
• We inspected the service as part of our inspection schedule methodology for ‘Good’ rated services.
Follow up:
• We did not identify any concerns at this inspection. We will therefore re-inspect this service within our published timeframe for services rated good. We will continue to monitor the service through the information we receive.