Background to this inspection
Updated
19 May 2018
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check 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 8 and 14 March 2018 and was announced.
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because it is small and the registered manager is often out of the office supporting staff or providing care. We needed to be sure that they would be available to speak with us.
As part of the inspection we reviewed the information we held about the service, such as statutory notifications we had received from the provider. Statutory notifications are about important events which the provider is required to send us by law.
We reviewed the Provider Information Record (PIR). The PIR is a form where we ask the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and what improvements they plan to make.
We also asked the local authority and Healthwatch if they had information to share about the service provided. Information provided to us indicated that concerns had been raised regarding missed calls and the time that staff attended agreed calls. We used this information to plan the inspection.
We visited the office location on 8 March 2018 to see the registered manager and to review care records and policies and procedures. We looked at the care and support plans for four people including assessments of risks and the administration of medicines records. We confirmed the safe recruitment of one staff member. We looked at records of incidents and accidents and quality checks completed by the provider.
Between 14 March 2018 and 18 March 2018 we spoke with one person who used the service, one friend and one relative, to seek their views on the service. We spoke with the provider and one care staff member.
Updated
19 May 2018
This inspection took place on 8 and 14 March 2018 and was announced.
This was our first inspection of Benedon Healthcare Limited since registration. This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats in the community and specialist housing. It provides a service to older adults. At this inspection it was providing personal care to four people and employed two staff members. The staff team consisted of the provider and one care worker.
Not everyone using Benedon Healthcare Limited receives a 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.
The provider of Benedon Healthcare Limited is registered as an 'Individual'. Individuals register in their own name with the Care Quality Commission. They are not required to have a registered manager in place because they are directly responsible for carrying on and managing the regulated activity of 'personal care'. As the 'registered person' they 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 were at the risk of harm as the provider did not have effective incident or accident reporting or investigation procedures in place. The provider did not have accurate reporting procedures in place should staff members witness or suspect abuse.
The provider had informal quality monitoring arrangements in place but did not complete quality checks on staff members to ensure they were working appropriately with people.
People were at risk of receiving care and support which did not meet current or best practice. This was because the provider did not keep themselves up to date with changes in legislation or working practice. These changes informed them how they should support people to meet their needs.
Staff members arrived when expected and stayed for the agreed amount of time to complete the necessary care and support. Staff members followed infection prevention and control guidance.
People were safely supported with their medicines by competent staff members. People received care and support from staff members who had received training and support to effectively assist them. New staff members received an introduction to their role and were equipped with the skills they needed to work with people.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People were treated in a kind, caring and considerate manner by those supporting them.
People had access to healthcare to maintain wellbeing. When needed people were supported to eat and drink enough to maintain their health. Staff attended training that was relevant to the people they supported and any additional training needed to meet people’s needs was provided.
People and their relatives were encouraged to raise any issues or concerns. The management team had systems in place to address any concerns or complaints.
People had regular contact with the registered manager whom they found approachable.
People were involved in making decisions about their care and had information they needed in a way they understood.
Staff received support and guidance from a management team who they found approachable. People and staff felt able to express their views and felt their opinions mattered.