Archived: Nurse Plus and Carer Plus (UK) Limited

Nurse Plus and Carer Plus (UK) Limited provides care and support for people living in their own homes. On the day of our inspection there were 157 people using the service.

The service had a registered manager in place. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) 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.

Nurse Plus and Carer Plus (UK) Limited was last inspected by CQC on 17 September 2013 and was compliant with the regulations in force at that time.

Accidents and incidents were appropriately recorded and investigated. Risk assessments were in place for people who used the service and staff and described potential risks and the safeguards in place. Staff had been trained in safeguarding vulnerable adults. Procedures were in place to ensure people received medicines as prescribed.

There were sufficient numbers of staff on duty in order to meet the needs of people who used the service. The registered provider had an effective recruitment and selection procedure in place and carried out relevant checks when they employed staff. Staff were suitably trained and received regular supervisions and appraisals.

The registered provider was working within the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (MCA).

People were protected from the risk of poor nutrition and staff were aware of people’s nutritional needs.

People who used the service and family members were complimentary about the standard of care from staff at Nurse Plus and Carer Plus (UK) Limited. Staff treated people with dignity and respect and helped to maintain people’s independence by encouraging them to care for themselves where possible.

Care records showed that people’s needs were assessed before they started using the service and care plans were written in a person centred way.

People were able to take part in activities based on their likes and interests and to help meet their social needs.

People who used the service and family members were aware of how to make a complaint and the registered provider had an effective complaints procedure in place.

Staff felt supported by the registered manager and were comfortable raising any concerns. People who used the service, family members and staff were regularly consulted about the quality of the service. Family members told us the management were approachable and understanding.

This DCA provided personal care and take a break services to approximately 60 people in their own home. During our inspection we spoke to the registered manager of the service, six staff members and 16 people who used the service and their relatives or representatives..

We found that people’s records were held confidentially within the office and were clear and concise in recording people’s needs and expectations of the service.

People we spoke with told us that the care they received was excellent and was usually provided at the allocated time. They told us that their privacy and dignity was respected at all times and that they knew how to report any concerns they may have to the manager.

We visited some people in their homes to review the records kept by staff and found these to be well kept. People told us they and /or their relatives had contributed to their care and task plan development. They told us that the service met their needs.

One person told us, “The carers are my lifeline to the community and they really help me.”

We saw that the policies and procedures in place provided assurances of the quality of care being provided by this agency.

During our visit we spoke with three people who used the service and a relative on the telephone and three members of staff (including the manager). We also spoke with one of Nurse Plus and Care Plus UK trainers who was at the branch running induction training for new staff. We looked also looked at records which included care files of people who used the service, personnel files of employees and the complaints record.

Comments we received from the people we had contact with were positive. People said that their privacy and dignity were respected. We were told The carers are very good indeed, their time keeping is good and they have a good laugh'. Another person told us that the cares were more than helpful and always cheerful'.