We carried out a review of the data available to us about HomeTouch Care Ltd on 6 July 2023. We have not found evidence that we need to carry out an inspection or reassess our rating at this stage.
This could change at any time if we receive new information. We will continue to monitor data about this service.
If you have concerns about HomeTouch Care Ltd, you can give feedback on this service.
HomeTouch Care Ltd is a domiciliary care agency that provides care and support to people in their own home. The service supports people who have dementia, mental health and physical disabilities, through a live-in care service. The service operates across a number of geographic areas across England.
HomeTouch Care Ltd provided two models of care. An Introductory care model where the service introduces people using the service to private carers. However, the service did not manage the carers and the support they provided. This aspect of the service was not regulated by CQC.
The second model of care was a service fully managed by HomeTouch Care Ltd and was regulated by the CQC. At the time of our visit there were 54 people receiving a regulated service, which means they were receiving support with 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
People told us they were happy with the care and support they received because they felt safe and all their needs were met by kind and caring staff.
Risks to people's health and wellbeing were assessed and risks mitigated. On the day of the inspection visit we found some gaps in risk assessments. But by the time of writing this report, these had been addressed. The service reviewed their risk assessment document to incorporate environmental assessments, had expanded on these and so these identified and reduced any environmental risks to people and staff.
Care records were personalised and set out people’s needs and how they liked to be supported, as well people’s history and what was important to them.
Recruitment practices were safe and relevant checks had been completed before staff worked at the service. The service employed experienced staff for the live-in care role. Staff received initial training in key areas before beginning working with people. People received their medicines safely by suitably trained staff.
Staff underwent regular supervision and checks of the service they were providing. They understood the principles of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and the importance of gaining consent from people. We found there were some gaps in mental capacity assessments, but these were addressed by the service at the time of writing this report.
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.
Staff and relatives told us that the service was well managed. The registered manager had oversight of staff performance. People and relatives knew how to raise concerns and complaints about the service. The managers dealt with received complaints promptly.
Since the last inspection the service had grown significantly. The management team were in the process of improving their quality assurance systems to ensure that the service provided was of good quality across all geographic areas they covered.
The management team were aware of their regulatory responsibilities, and had notified CQC and other stakeholders appropriately.
The service sought feedback about the service from people, relatives, staff and external professionals. Feedback from surveys as well as information gathered from quality audits complaints, accidents and incidents and safeguarding concerns, was used to introduce changes and improve the service provided.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was good, (published 19 November 2019).
Why we inspected
This inspection was prompted by a review of the information we held about this service.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.
Hometouch is a domiciliary care agency that provides care and support to younger and older people in their own home. People receiving a service included those with dementia, mental health, physical disabilities and learning disabilities. Hometouch provided two models of care. An Introductory care model where the service introduced people using the service to private carers. However, the service did not manage the carers and the support they provided. This aspect of the service was not regulated by CQC. The second regulatory model was a service fully managed by Hometouch and was regulated by the CQC. At the time of our visit there were 12 people receiving a regulated service. All 12 people were receiving 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
Hometouch provided safe care. Staff received training in safeguarding people and there were safe recruitment procedures in place to protect people from unsuitable staff. There were enough care staff deployed to support people. People received their medicines safely by suitably trained staff. Risks related to people’s health conditions and providing care had been assessed. Staff were provided with guidelines on how to minimise identified risks.
People’s health and care needs had been assessed before the service started. The information was then used to formulate person centred care plans for each person. Care plans included information about people’s care needs and preferences as well people’s history and what was important to them. At the time of our inspection, the service was implementing a new electronic care planning online platform. The aim was to enable staff, the managers and when agreed family members to have prompt access to up to date information about people’s care.
Staff received training and were undergoing regular checks and supervision. This was to help staff provide safe and effective care to people that met people’s needs. Staff supported people to live a healthy life. People were provided with sufficient and nutritious food and drink. Staff ensured external health professionals had been notified when people’s health needs changed, or their health suddenly deteriorated.
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 and relatives described staff as kind and caring. They told us staff protected people’s dignity and privacy. External professionals thought staff were professional and supported people with consideration to people’s needs and wishes. Staff spoke kindly about people. They told us empowering people to have the choices and following people’s wishes was important to them.
People and relatives knew how to raise concerns and complaints about the service. The managers dealt with received complaints promptly.
The service was well managed. There were clear polices and procedures guiding staff on what their roles and responsibilities were. The management team were aware of their regulatory responsibilities. These had been met according to the standard required by the Regulations.
Stakeholders spoke positively about the management team and support they offered. People and relatives thought the managers were approachable, easily accessible and helpful when issues arose. Staff felt listened to and supported by the managers. External professionals praised the managers and staff for their professionalism and empathetic approach to the care offered to people.
The service sought feedback about the service from people, relatives, staff and external professionals. Feedback from surveys as well as information gathered from quality audits complaints, accidents and incidents and safeguarding concerns, was used to introduce changes and improve the service provided.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection– This service was registered with us on 28 February 2018 and this is the first inspection.
Why we inspected - This was a planned inspection.
Follow up - We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.