Background to this inspection
Updated
30 September 2023
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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.
Inspection team
This inspection was carried out by 2 inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
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 provider is required to have a registered manager to oversee the delivery of regulated activities at this location. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Registered managers and providers are legally responsible for how the service is run, for the quality and safety of the care provided and compliance with regulations.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
We gave the service 24 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because it is a small service and we needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
We visited the location’s office on 21 June 2023.
What we did before the inspection
We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make.
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. This included notifications of events providers are required to tell us about, and information from members of the public about their experience of the service.
We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We spoke with 5 people and 7 relatives of people who used the service about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with the registered manager, and 4 members of staff. We reviewed a range of records. These included 3 people's care records and multiple medication records. We looked at 3 staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including audits, training records and policies and procedures were reviewed.
Updated
30 September 2023
About the service
Your Life (Basingstoke) is a is a domiciliary care agency providing home care services to people who live in one of the leasehold apartments located in the grounds of Lady Susan Court in Basingstoke; if people wish to purchase a personal care service from the provider. People can also arrange personal care with external providers if preferred. At the time of inspection, they were providing care to 11 people, which included older people, and people with a physical disability or sensory impairment.
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
The provider had a safeguarding policy, which detailed actions to help keep people safe in the event of concern to their safety or wellbeing. People told us they felt safe with the care provided. There were enough staff in place to safely deliver care to people. The registered manager would cover calls as a backup. People were supported with medicines safely and appropriately by the provider.
Staff received training and support in their role this included shadowing experienced staff. People and relatives were positive about staff. People's needs were assessed prior to care commencing. This included supporting them with food and drink as well as ensuring their health needs were met by working with other agencies and professionals.
People told us staff were kind, caring and friendly. Staff knew people well and respected their preferences. People told us staff had time to listen to them and answer their questions. People told us staff promoted their dignity whilst helping with their personal care.
The registered manager had ensured care plans were reviewed regularly and involved people and their relatives. This included details around people's medical needs, preferences and risks related to their care. The reviewed care plans reflected people's needs. People and their relatives told us they felt they could make a complaint or raise issues if they had to. The service was able to provide good end of life care and involve people in the planning and choice of how this was delivered by staff.
The registered manager worked closely with people and staff to create a friendly, open and comfortable atmosphere in the service. Staff felt supported to deliver high quality care that led to good outcomes for people. Staff were clear about their roles, the risks people had and how to report issues. Staff felt engaged and involved. The registered manager regularly reviewed the quality of care with people and their relatives.
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.
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 8 November 2018).
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.