Background to this inspection
Updated
26 March 2021
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
This inspection was carried out by one inspector on site and two assistant inspectors who made telephone calls to people, their relatives, staff and health and social care professionals.
Service and service type
This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes.
The service had a manager registered with the Care Quality Commission. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
Notice of inspection
We gave a short period of notice of the inspection because we wanted to gather as much information before the site visit as possible. This enabled us to minimise the time spent on-site to ensure the safety of people, staff and the inspector in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Inspection activity started on 4 March 2021 when we visited the office location. We spoke to staff and relatives on the phone on 4 and 5 March 2021.
What we did before the inspection
The provider was not asked to complete a provider information return prior to this inspection. This is information we require providers to send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We took this into account when we inspected the service and made the judgements in this report.
Before the inspection site visit we reviewed all the information we held about the service. We also asked for contact details of people using the service, their relatives, staff and health and social care professionals. All of these were received. We used all of this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
During the inspection we spoke with five people who used the service, two relatives, three members of staff and two health and social care professionals. The registered manager was available throughout the inspection.
We reviewed a range of records which included two care plans, two staff recruitment and training and various audits. We reviewed the electronic system in place for devising schedules for people.
Updated
26 March 2021
About the service
Obasan Services Limited is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own homes. 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. At the time of this inspection, eight people were receiving the regulated activity of personal care.
People's experience of using this service and what we found
People and relatives spoke positively about the service they received. We were given many examples that showed people received quality care and support from staff who ensured people were kept safe, were happy and felt well cared for.
Staff spoke knowledgably about all aspects regarding safeguarding people. Staff had completed safeguarding training and understood their role in identifying and reporting any concerns of potential abuse or poor practice.
Risks were individually assessed, regularly reviewed, clear and covered all areas of people's health as well as any potential environmental risks. Risks assessments ensured staff were given current guidance and information to enable them to support people safely whilst allowing them to maintain their independence.
People were supported by sufficient numbers of trained, experienced staff to meet their needs. People received support from a consistent team of skilled staff that knew people well and delivered their care in ways people preferred.
Safe recruitment practices were followed. Appropriate checks were completed to ensure that only suitable staff were employed. There was a commitment to developing and supporting staff through regular training, supervisions, observations and appraisals. Staff spoke positively about the training they received which they told us was well delivered and of good quality.
Staff supported people to take medicines safely. Staff were trained in medicines management and knew how to ensure that people received their medicines on time and as they had been prescribed. Clear audit processes were in place to monitor the accuracy of administering and recording medicines.
There were robust procedures in place to ensure people were protected from infections that could affect both staff and people using the service. Staff had completed infection prevention and control training and understood the actions needed to minimise the risk of avoidable harm, including the prevention of avoidable infection. Staff had access to plentiful supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and spot checks were in place to ensure staff were following current national guidance regarding the Covid-19 pandemic.
People, relatives, health and social care professionals and staff spoke highly of the registered manager. People felt the service was well led with a commitment to providing person-centred care.
Staff told us, and records showed, there was an open, honest, positive culture. Staff were provided with the training, skills and support to provide care to people which enabled them to live their lives as independently as possible whilst maintaining a good sense of wellbeing and happiness.
Governance systems had been improved. Audits had been revised and were being carried on a monthly basis. The registered manager said they had, “Much better oversight of the service now.”
People, relatives, health and social care professionals. and staff consistently spoke of the effective and clear communication they had with the service.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
We carried out an announced focused inspection of this service on 3 September 2020. A breach of legal requirements was found. The provider had conditions attached to their registration which required them to report to CQC once a month to advise of their progress with meeting the regulation of good governance. The ratings from the previous comprehensive inspection for those key questions not looked at on this occasion were used in calculating the overall rating at this inspection. The overall rating for the service has remained as requires improvement. This is based on the findings at this inspection.
At this inspection we found improvements had been made and the provider was no longer in breach of regulations.
Improvements have been made with the management oversight and auditing systems. Recruitment processes have been strengthened to ensure they are robust.
Why we inspected
This was a focussed inspection conducted in accordance with current CQC inspection guidance.
You can read the report from our last comprehensive inspection, by selecting the ‘all reports’ link for Obasan Services Limited on our website at www.cqc.org.uk.
Follow up. We will work alongside the provider to monitor progress. We will return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.