Helping Hands Barnsley

Updated 11 June 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 Health and Social Care Act 2008.

Inspection team

The inspection was carried out by one inspector 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 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 gave the service 48 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.

Inspection activity started on 12 May 2022 and ended on 13 May 2022. We visited the location’s office on 12 May 2022.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed information we had received about the service since they registered with CQC. We sought feedback from the local authority and professionals who work with the service. 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 used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with two people who used the service and five relatives about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with five members of staff including the registered manager, care coordinator and care workers.

We reviewed a range of records. This included three people’s care records and medication records. We looked at two staff files in relation to recruitment and staff supervision. We also reviewed a variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures.

After the inspection

We continued to seek clarification from the provider to validate evidence found. We looked at training data and quality assurance records.

Updated 11 June 2022

About the service

Helping Hands Barnsley is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care and support to people living in their own homes. At the time of our inspection there were 28 people using the service.

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. At the time of our inspection 17 people were receiving personal care.

People’s experience of using this service and what we found

The provider had systems in place to safeguard people from the risk of abuse. Staff told us they received training in safeguarding and would report anything of concern to the management team immediately.

Risks associated with people’s care were identified and managed safely. People told us they received their medicines as prescribed.

The providers recruitment system was robust and ensured suitable staff were employed. People and their relatives told us staff arrived at the expected time and stayed at the call for the allotted time.

The management team ensured staff wore Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), and were mindful about infection prevention and control. People and relatives told us staff wore PPE and left their home clean and tidy. Accidents and incidents were recorded, action was taken to mitigate future incidents.

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 told us they received appropriate training which gave them the skills to carry out their role.

People and relatives were complimentary about the service hey received, commenting that the management team were approachable, and the carers were kind and friendly.

Care plans were person centred and offered staff guidance about how to support people. Staff told us they were keen to ensure care was delivered in line with people’s preferences.

The management team had an effective system in place to monitor the quality of the service. The registered manager was responsive to comments and feedback and used this to develop 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

This service was registered with us on 18 February 2021 and this is the first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned inspection of a newly registered service. We inspected to give the provider a rating.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.