Helping Hands Stroud

Updated 25 March 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

This inspection was carried out by one inspector.

This service is a domiciliary care agency. It provides personal care to people living in their own houses and flats. At the time of our inspection the service was not providing personal care to people with a learning disability.

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 the service prior 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.

What we did before the inspection

The provider was not asked to complete a Provider Information Return (PIR) prior to this inspection. A PIR is information providers send us to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.

During the inspection

We spoke with four members of staff including the registered manager, the recruitment coordinator the nominated individual, the branch and two care workers. We spoke with three people who used the service and seven relatives about their experience of the care provided.

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

After the inspection

We received comments from a health care professional involved with a person using the service.

Updated 25 March 2022

About the service

Helping Hands Stroud is a domiciliary care agency providing personal care to 24 people at the time of our inspection.

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

We heard positive views about the service from people, their relatives such as, and “Can’t fault them” and “Very impressed.”

People received care which was safe, and staff understood how to support people to maintain their safety. People's medicines were administered as expected. The provider checked the suitability of new staff through robust recruitment processes. Care staff used personal protective equipment (PPE) and supported people to reduce the risk of infection.

Staff received support to carry out their roles through training and regular meetings with senior staff. People received personalised care and were supported to access healthcare services when the need arose.

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.

Quality assurance systems were in operation with the aim of improving the service in response to people's needs. The registered manager and senior staff visible and approachable for people using the service, their representatives and staff.

For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk

This service was registered with us on 8 March 2021 and this is the 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, which will help inform when we next inspect.