Background to this inspection
Updated
8 May 2020
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
Inspection team
The inspection was undertaken by one inspector.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats .
The service had two managers registered with the Care Quality Commission. Like the provider a registered manager is 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. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 27 January and ended on 31 January. We visited the office location on 30 January 2020.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return. This is information providers are required to send us with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. This information helps support our inspections. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with four people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with seven members of staff including the provider, registered manager, senior care worker and 3 care worker and one administrator.
We reviewed a range of records. This included seven people’s care records. We looked at three staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were reviewed.
Updated
8 May 2020
About the service
Olut Care is a is a domiciliary care agency which provides support for adults in the community, including those living with dementia. At the time of the inspection 15 people were receiving personal care services supported by seven care staff.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. CQC only inspects where people receive personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. Where they do we also consider any wider social care provided.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
Systems in place to assess and monitor the quality of the service were not sufficiently robust to identify that improvements were needed in relation to staff recruitment and person-centred support plans.
Risk assessments did not always provide sufficient details, so staff could support people safely. People told us they felt safe using the service. Accidents and incidents were recorded and acted upon. People received their medicines safely. Staff followed infection control procedures.
People were supported by trained staff. Assessments were carried out prior to people joining the service to ensure their needs could be met. People were supported to maintain good health and had access to a range of health and social care service’s.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
People were supported by caring and compassionate staff who provided dignified care and respected people’s privacy. Staff knew people well which ensured they provided support in line with their wishes. People were involved in the planning and review of their care.
Staff spoke positively about working for the provider and felt well supported. Staff were able to raise ideas for service improvement and these were listened to. There were procedures in place to respond to complaints. The provider had investigated and responded promptly to any concerns received.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection and update
The last rating for this service was requires improvement (published 5 February 2019) and there were three breaches of regulations. The provider completed an action plan after the last inspection to show what they would do and by when to improve. At this inspection enough, improvement had not been made and the provider was still in breach of two regulations. This service has been rated requires improvement for the last two consecutive inspections.
Why we inspected
This was a planned inspection based on the previous rating.
Enforcement
We have identified breaches in relation to governance and the safe recruitment of staff at this inspection. Please see the action we have told the provider to take at the end of this report.
Full information about CQC’s regulatory response to the more serious concerns found during inspections is added to reports after any representations and appeals have been concluded.
Follow up
We will request an action plan for the provider to understand what they will do to improve the standards of quality and safety. We will work alongside the provider and local authority to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.