Rula Homecare Limited

Updated 22 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 team consisted of an 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.

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 not a registered manager in post. The care and wellbeing manager at the service was planning to apply to CQC to be the registered manager.

Notice of inspection

This inspection was announced. We gave the service 48 hours’ notice of the inspection. This was because we needed to be sure that the provider or management would be in the office to support the inspection.

Inspection activity started on 27 May 2022 when we visited the office and ended on 8 June 2022 when we gave feedback.

What we did before the inspection

We reviewed our systems and information we held about 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 took this into account when we inspected the service and made judgements in this report.

During the inspection

We spoke with six people who used the service and seven relatives about their experience of Rula Homecare Limited.

We spoke with the provider’s nominated individual, the care and wellbeing manager, the deputy manager and three care staff. We received electronic feedback from one relative, six members of staff, a social worker and the local authority commissioning team who work with the service.

We reviewed a range of records which included risk assessments, medication records for three people and three staff records. We also viewed some of the provider’s policies and procedures, management monitoring and oversight records.

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 22 June 2022

Rula Homecare Limited is a domiciliary care service providing care to people in their own homes. CQC only inspects where people receive a regulated activity of personal care. This is help with tasks related to personal hygiene and eating.

Where they do receive personal care, we also consider any wider social care provided. At the time of inspection there were 39 people who used the service who received personal care.

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

Overall people and their relatives were complimentary about the service Rula Homecare Limited provided and would recommend the service. The management and staff worked in partnership with people, relatives and other professionals to achieve individualised, person-centred care.

Risks were assessed and managed safely. The management and staff understood their roles in recognising and responding to abuse. People were supported by a staff team who were safely recruited, trained and knew how to protect them from potential harm.

People’s care was provided at the times they expected, for the length of time agreed and from staff they knew. However, we were told of some inconsistencies with communication where people were not told of changes in a timely manner and of language barriers and being able to understand the staff. The management were taking steps to address this.

People received their medication as prescribed and staff adhered to infection prevention and control procedures in line with legislative requirements and recognised best practice guidelines.

People's care and support records were re-assessed regularly and guided staff on how to assist people safely and encourage their independence.

Staff understood the importance of gaining consent from people. 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.

People and relatives felt able to raise any issues with the staff and management team and were confident these would be addressed. Staff felt supported and valued in their role by the management team.

Systems to monitor the quality and safety of the service were in place.

Rating at last inspection

The service was registered with us on 6 April 2021. This was their first inspection.

Why we inspected

This was a planned comprehensive inspection.

Follow up

We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service until we return to visit as per our re-inspection programme. If we receive any concerning information we may inspect sooner.

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