Background to this inspection
Updated
8 October 2022
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 carried out 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.
Registered Manager
This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. 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.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
We provided a short notice period of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 15 September 2022 and ended on 20 September 2022. We visited the office location on 15 September 2022.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we received about the service. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. The provider was 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. We used all the information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with three relatives who were involved in their loved one's provision of care, the registered manager, one director and three members of care staff. We reviewed a range of records, including three people’s care records, medication administration records, as well as a variety of records relating to the management of the service.
Updated
8 October 2022
About the service
Future Living Care is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to children, younger adults and older people in their own homes. The service was supporting five people at the time of the inspection.
Not everyone who used the service received personal care. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) only inspects where people receive personal care. Personal Care 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
People’s level of care and areas of risk were safely and effectively assessed. People received support that was tailored around their individual needs. Care records contained up to date, and relevant information although we did find some areas where risk management measures needed to be more detailed. This was immediately addressed by the registered manager.
Safe staffing levels were in place; we received positive feedback to suggest that a good, consistent level of care was being delivered. Effective pre-employment recruitment checks were carried out and the necessary disclosure and barring service (DBS) checks were conducted. Some aspects of ‘safer recruitment’ needed strengthening. The registered manager had already identified these improvements were needed.
Infection prevention and control (IPC) arrangements were in place. IPC and COVID-19 training was provided, PPE was in plentiful supply, and staff continued to engage in twice weekly COVID-19 testing.
The provider had embedded safe and effective medication administration procedures. Staff were trained to administer medicines, they had access to an up to date medication administration policy and there was an effective level of oversight in relation to medicine management and compliance.
Staff were familiar with safeguarding and incident reporting procedures. Staff knew how to escalate any safeguarding concerns, the importance of protecting people from harm and completing the necessary safeguarding training..
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.
Person-centred, dignified and respectful level of care was provided to people. One relative told us, “Carers are very friendly, and I know [relative] is safe.”
Staff were familiar with people they supported and provided a tailored level of care. We did note that some care records needed to contain a greater level of personalised information as a measure of ensuring that people’s needs, likes and preferences were captured. Communication support needs were established and supported accordingly. The provider was developing their approach to ensuring the accessible information standard was continuously improving and the correct support measures could be implemented as and when needed.
The provider ensured that effective quality assurance measures and systems had been embedded. Such systems helped to monitor, review and improve the quality and safety of care people received. Staff and management were aware their roles, as well as regulatory and legal responsibilities that needed to be complied with.
Rating at last inspection
This service was registered with us on13 July 2020 and this was their first inspection.
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 until we return to our inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.