Background to this inspection
Updated
31 October 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 10 October 2018 and was announced. The inspection was carried out by one inspector.
We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection visit because it is small and we needed to be sure that the people we needed to speak with would be available.
Inspection site visit activity started on 10 October 2018 where we visited the office location to see the nominated individual and to review care records and records relating to the running of the service. On 12 October 2018 we spoke with one person using the service and three relatives by telephone to gain their views on the service.
Prior to the inspection we looked at information we held about the service. This included notifications received from the service. Providers are required under the law to send notifications to CQC relating to specific events. We looked at the Provider Information Return. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make.
We also read a sample of feedback from people and relatives who had provided their views on the service via a UK home care website.
During the inspection we met with the nominated individual, who was one of the directors of the service. We also looked at two people’s care records, three staff employment files and other records, such as monitoring records and audits.
Prior to the inspection we emailed six staff for their feedback on the service and three replied. We emailed one relative and they gave us their opinions about the service. Two healthcare professionals also emailed us with their comments about the service.
Updated
31 October 2018
Personal Home Choices LTD provided care staff to people living in their own homes.This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. It provides a service to older adults. Everyone using Personal Home Choices LTD received regulated activity; CQC only inspects the service being received by people provided with 'personal care'; help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating. We also took into account wider social care provided. At the time of the inspection there were 8 people were receiving the regulated activity of personal care.
This announced inspection was carried out on 10 October 2018. This was the first inspection of this service since it was registered in November 2017.
The previous registered manager had left their post in June 2018 and a new manager had started working for the service from 1 October 2018. They were in the process of applying to be the registered manager. 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.
There were systems in place to ensure people safely received their medicines. However, information in people’s care plans did not always accurately reflect if people needed staff to prompt or administer their medicines. Shortly after the inspection the director confirmed people's care plans accurately recorded what type of support people needed with their medicines.
The provider had recruitment processes in place, however, these had not always been followed. The director rectified the recruitment issues shortly after the inspection.
Audits took place to check the quality of the services being offered to people. There were action plans which had identified areas needing to be reviewed and improved. Throughout the inspection the management provided a positive and honest response to the inspection process.
People told us they felt safe receiving care from the staff team. Risks to people were assessed and managed safely to help them maintain their independence. Staff were aware of people’s needs and followed guidance to keep them safe. Staff understood how to safeguard people and protect their health and well-being.
Care plans contained detailed information and were regularly reviewed with people to ensure they reflected their current needs.
People were supported to maintain their health and staff worked in partnership with social and health care professionals.
People received high quality care from staff who were kind and compassionate. We received positive feedback on the staff team from people using the service and relatives.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible. The systems in the service supported this practice.
People and relatives were confident in the management of the service and were comfortable to raise concerns.
Staff received on-going training and support that ensured they had the skills and knowledge to meet people's needs.